Collaborative law is a voluntary process in which each party retains a specially-trained lawyer to collaborate together in joint meetings to negotiate resolution of the issues in dispute without the underlying threat of contested litigation.
In collaborative family law the parties are the separated or divorcing couple who want to settle the range of matters regarding the ending of their relationship – in a conciliatory forum – together and with the support and counsel of their lawyers. Coaches and others may be involved to assist with communications and matters relating to children, finances, etc.
If issues do not settle using this methodology, the parties are required to retain different counsel for litigation purposes.
Collaborative law may be used in other contexts besides family law, though it is most commonly applied, to date, in disputes of this nature.