Arlington Divorce Attorney

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How to Begin a Collaborative Divorce

The client should have an initial legal consultation with an attorney, trained in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice, which includes a comprehensive intake of the factual history from the client along with the client’s interests, goals and concerns. How to Begin a Collaborative Divorce The attorney then provides information regarding the various models of dispute resolution. The client needs to understand how the various processes work, and the pros and cons as relates to their situation to make a determination, with the attorney’s assistance, whether Collaborative Divorce makes sense while considering the factual history and the clients own interests and goals.

Once both parties have retained collaboratively trained lawyers, the lawyers would then talk to review the case and discuss plans for a first meeting. The first meeting consists of the clients and their lawyers and possibly other professionals engaged on the Collaborative team. During the first meeting, the Collaborative Participation Agreement (which outlines in detail the parameters for the process) is reviewed and signed by the parties.

The next step is to determine whether there are pressing needs that are time sensitive (those issues may need to be addressed shortly after the Collaborative Participation Agreement is signed.)

The team then moves into identifying issues, gathering factual information (from the clients and the professionals), hearing from the clients as to their respective interests and goals, brainstorming options, and looking at options with the goal of maximizing the interests of the parties and their children (if applicable).

Legal advice is transparent so that the clients have the opportunity to hear what each lawyer has to say.

Once an agreement is reached, the details are worked through and the agreement is usually reduced to writing in contractual form and signed by the clients.

The process is likely to proceed over the course of several meetings. Those in attendance may vary depending on the needs of the clients and the meeting agenda.

If desired, the attorneys assist their clients in obtaining an uncontested no-fault divorce.

The Collaborative Process can be extremely worthwhile for parties where all involved are committed to assisting the clients reach a quality settlement. There is no distraction of litigation pending and the professionals use their skills and training in interest-based communications to address the needs of the clients in a positive manner.

Collaborative solutions for separation, divorce and other family matters.
703.528.1991


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Karen Keyes has been selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers of America in the areas of Collaborative Law/Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Selection to Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review process.

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    The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

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    Arlington Collaborative Law PLLC

    2311 Wilson Blvd., Suite 625
    Arlington, VA 22201
    Phone: 703-528-1991
    Fax: 703-528-1948
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    Collaborative Divorce Attorney and Mediator Serving Northern Virginia (The City of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford Counties) and Washington D.C.
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