Working With a Collaborative Law Lawyer: How the Process Works
Collaborative law is a respectful way to resolve family law matters without going to court. It is often called “mediation with advice”. Each of you engages a collaboratively trained lawyer, and sometimes other professionals, to identify what matters most and decide if the process suits you.
If you both agree, you each need a collaborative lawyer. There are relatively few, but our collaborative divorce lawyers in Toowoomba, Ipswich, North Lakes and Brisbane are well connected within that community, which can help the process run smoothly.
You then sign a collaborative practice contract. It confirms you will take part appropriately, and that your collaborative lawyer (or anyone at their firm) cannot represent you if the matter goes to court.
Meetings include all parties and any neutral experts you agree on, such as accountants, financial advisors, mediators, psychologists or counsellors. An agenda is set beforehand, so you know what will be discussed.
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law offers fixed-fee initial appointments with a collaborative divorce lawyer, with no obligation to continue. Contact us to find out if this process suits you.
What are the benefits of collaborative family law?
You and your former partner once had something very special and unique. Collaborative law lets you honour that relationship, even after it has ended, to preserve what you had and especially your emotional and financial wellbeing, and that of any children you share.
- Minimise conflict now and well into the future
- Avoid court and the emotional and financial expense that can bring at an already difficult time
- Prioritise your children’s needs and future wellbeing
- Maintain dignity, respect, and privacy
- Allow yourself to communicate effectively
- Give yourself better control over the process
- Provide for a fairer outcome based on your needs, wants, and desires
Is collaborative law suitable for my family law matter?
In our experience, most people would like an amicable resolution to their family law matter that doesn’t cost the earth or their emotional wellbeing. Collaborative law certainly fits the bill.
To help decide if collaborative law is right for you, consider the following and how agreeable both parties are to each of the below principles.
- Are you committed to behaving in a respectful manner towards each other?
- Will you be transparent about your financial situation and exchange all financial information?
- Will you maintain confidentiality about the matter and express your needs frankly and honestly?
- Will you make sure your children don’t feel caught in the middle?
If this sounds suitable to you and your former partner, then collaborative practice is a cost-effective and efficient alternative to resolving your family law dispute, and one where an agreement can hopefully be reached without the threat of court proceedings.
It is also important to note that if there is a history of domestic and family violence in the relationship, then collaborative practice is not the right choice for you and you ought to speak to a specialist family lawyer to ensure your safety and learn what your options are.
What if collaborative law doesn’t work?
If collaborative law does not work and court is the only alternative, the collaborative lawyers must withdraw and cannot represent either of you in court proceedings and litigation.
It is very rare that this happens but, if it does, we will always provide you with a quality referral to assist you on the next step of your family law journey.
Make an appointment with an experienced collaborative divorce lawyer today.
Client Feedback
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you again for going over and above, it's much appreciated and not lost on me.”
“Thank you so much Samantha for your continued support with my divorce. Much appreciated.”
“Golly Gosh, it’s so amazing. Thank you so much Kiara. I’m thinking the final orders may just be more obtainable now.”
“Cassie was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable.”
“Cassie and the team at BWB have been nothing short of amazing to deal with. For me the experience of dealing with a property settlement after divorce is something that I never wanted to have to go through, nor wish upon anyone else for that matter. However, in times where emotions are high, I would highly recommend getting help from the team at BWB, and having them provide you with the correct advice using their level heads. Navigating through any legal matters requires so much time and effort, so in my opinion, this is best left to the professionals. Cassie has been prompt and professional, yet at the same time understanding, and not at all bias in dealing with my personal matter which I was concerned about being a male. In fact I am glad that after researching law firms in Ipswich that I chose BWB and meet Cassie. So a big thank you Cassie, and it has been a pleasure in an unpleasant time dealing with you and I hope that anyone reading this testimonial will engage you to assist in their future family law matters. Thank you.”
“Your team was absolutely wonderful. Professional, discreet, sensitive and was just a guiding light in ensuring a speedy, yet practical outcome. All staff were courteous and nothing was ever an inconvenience to ask. Advice was timely and I always felt respected and heard. I had great confidence in Best Wilson Buckley and would definitely recommend them.”
“I would like to thank Jo Maloney who handled my Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. She showed professionalism and explained things to me in a down-to-earth manner.”
“Pure professionalism throughout the process, with exceptional advice and timely action that lead to the optimal outcome.”
“I especially want to thank Natalia and Adele for helping me with my property settlement – they were amazing. Natalia in particular showed nothing but professionalism – he didn’t keep me in the dark, he was up front and honest, and was very compassionate, understanding, and supportive… Natalia also made me aware of future costs so there weren’t any unexpected costs. I would like to thank the whole team at BWBFL for their support and I will definitely high recommend their services.”
“Thank you so much for your help! You helped me through times when I struggled to see the light weather you knew it or not. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!”
“Thank you so much for all your advice and knowledge. I am very happy with the result and can now get on with my life.”
“Thank you, so very much for your kindness, hard work and thoughts. Once again Cassie, you have been fabulous and I appreciate how easy you are to talk to and how contactable you have been.”
“Thanks again for your advice. I really hope that we do not need to meet with you for further guidance but we feel confident that if needed that you are a great fit for us.”
“Neal, I can’t thank you enough for your professional services and support over the last two years … I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you and I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you again for your invaluable assistance in bringing resolution to this matter yesterday. I was particularly impressed with your approach to the mediation.”
“I wanted to thank you for all your help throughout this journey. As stressful as the process was, you made it a lot easier to deal with. I really appreciate the help and support you have given me.”
“When we approached Lynn with our queries regarding a family law matter, we found her to be extremely helpful. After listening to our concerns, Lynn outlined the options available to us along with the pros and cons of each option. All our questions were answered in detail with the supporting reasons given. We found Lynn to be very knowledgeable in family law matters and her advice invaluable to us. We will certainly be seeking Lynn's advice should we require further assistance in the future.”
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart... I feel overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness… I appreciate all the hard work you are both doing to support me.”
“We are over the moon to see [the children] back where they belong. We would like to sincerely thank you and your team for all that you have done.”
“Thank you again for your help, you are amazing at your jobs and I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family so far.”
“I came to BWB to get legal advice and didn’t expect to be supported and encouraged by Rachel and Fadzai through the process, which has given me the strength to keep going until today when it settled. My friends, when they heard where I was going, told me that BWB is known for that.”
“I celebrated the removal of the immediate burden with a couple of dark amber ales – I am under no illusion that victory will have the same odds as Phar Lap returning from the dead and winning the next Melbourne Cup, But, just standing up for my rights and against the unwarranted injustice and nonsense that has been heaped to my door, already makes me feel like the jockey of the moment. I tip my hat to your professionalism and bow in gratitude – you treated me with compassion and kindness.”
“Thank you for your prompt reply. I very much appreciated your sincerity, directness, and the scope of your knowledge. It has sorted out a great deal in our lives and made me and my son aware of so many vital pieces of information. I will pass on the information. Thank you once again for your guidance”
“Thank you so much … I’m so happy with the outcome … I can’t thank you enough. I’m so thankful I had you on my side.”
“Hi Rachel, Fadzai, and Brittany and anyone else that has helped me out. Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 12 months… It had been a long and frustrating 12 months… Time to now to buy a new home and get back on track again. Thanks again for everything.”
“Thank you again Stephanie for the professional expertise and amazing prompt, efficient service that you and the Best Wilson Buckley Ipswich team provided to myself during this time.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of Stephanie and Cassie – they have been fantastic throughout the whole process.”
“Thanks Sophia, I appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you for your email and all the work BWBFL, Govind and yourself have done to get to this stage.”
“I truly am so grateful to you and everything you have done over the past year and a half. It has been a rollercoaster, however the compassion you show in your role gives family law practitioners a really great name. I think you know just how much it means to me and my family – which is what makes you great.”
“I want to thank you for being so steady and understanding in my situation. You made this process so much easier with your kind and gentle approach. You are a credit to your firm. It's a shame we never met you in person so I could shake your hand.”
“The letter is perfect. I can’t thank you enough. This letter honestly means the world to me and I appreciate your time in putting this together for me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for today. It was an amazing experience. I found it highly illuminating. I got everything I wanted and I see a clear path forward. Most important of all I have more time with my daughters than I dared to hope for. Cassie was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your work on this has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“I’m a bit lost for words… you have no idea of the pressures that have been lifted. Thank you for your guidance, devotion, and relentless focus on my case for the past three and a half years. It has been extremely long and mentally exhausting… I am blown away by [your] integrity and all the hard work you did on my behalf. I will always be grateful for your efforts and copious amounts of time, research, and understanding to ensure the best possible outcome for establishing and concreting the building blocks for a beautiful and meaningful relationship with my [girls]. Thank you once again.”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for the invaluable assistance both yourself and Katie have shown me. Your patience and guidance is appreciated and valued”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you again for going over and above, it's much appreciated and not lost on me.”
“Thank you so much Samantha for your continued support with my divorce. Much appreciated.”
“Golly Gosh, it’s so amazing. Thank you so much Kiara. I’m thinking the final orders may just be more obtainable now.”
“Cassie was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable.”
“Cassie and the team at BWB have been nothing short of amazing to deal with. For me the experience of dealing with a property settlement after divorce is something that I never wanted to have to go through, nor wish upon anyone else for that matter. However, in times where emotions are high, I would highly recommend getting help from the team at BWB, and having them provide you with the correct advice using their level heads. Navigating through any legal matters requires so much time and effort, so in my opinion, this is best left to the professionals. Cassie has been prompt and professional, yet at the same time understanding, and not at all bias in dealing with my personal matter which I was concerned about being a male. In fact I am glad that after researching law firms in Ipswich that I chose BWB and meet Cassie. So a big thank you Cassie, and it has been a pleasure in an unpleasant time dealing with you and I hope that anyone reading this testimonial will engage you to assist in their future family law matters. Thank you.”
“Your team was absolutely wonderful. Professional, discreet, sensitive and was just a guiding light in ensuring a speedy, yet practical outcome. All staff were courteous and nothing was ever an inconvenience to ask. Advice was timely and I always felt respected and heard. I had great confidence in Best Wilson Buckley and would definitely recommend them.”
“I would like to thank Jo Maloney who handled my Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. She showed professionalism and explained things to me in a down-to-earth manner.”
“Pure professionalism throughout the process, with exceptional advice and timely action that lead to the optimal outcome.”
“I especially want to thank Natalia and Adele for helping me with my property settlement – they were amazing. Natalia in particular showed nothing but professionalism – he didn’t keep me in the dark, he was up front and honest, and was very compassionate, understanding, and supportive… Natalia also made me aware of future costs so there weren’t any unexpected costs. I would like to thank the whole team at BWBFL for their support and I will definitely high recommend their services.”
“Thank you so much for your help! You helped me through times when I struggled to see the light weather you knew it or not. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!”
“Thank you so much for all your advice and knowledge. I am very happy with the result and can now get on with my life.”
“Thank you, so very much for your kindness, hard work and thoughts. Once again Cassie, you have been fabulous and I appreciate how easy you are to talk to and how contactable you have been.”
“Thanks again for your advice. I really hope that we do not need to meet with you for further guidance but we feel confident that if needed that you are a great fit for us.”
“Neal, I can’t thank you enough for your professional services and support over the last two years … I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you and I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you again for your invaluable assistance in bringing resolution to this matter yesterday. I was particularly impressed with your approach to the mediation.”
“I wanted to thank you for all your help throughout this journey. As stressful as the process was, you made it a lot easier to deal with. I really appreciate the help and support you have given me.”
“When we approached Lynn with our queries regarding a family law matter, we found her to be extremely helpful. After listening to our concerns, Lynn outlined the options available to us along with the pros and cons of each option. All our questions were answered in detail with the supporting reasons given. We found Lynn to be very knowledgeable in family law matters and her advice invaluable to us. We will certainly be seeking Lynn's advice should we require further assistance in the future.”
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart... I feel overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness… I appreciate all the hard work you are both doing to support me.”
“We are over the moon to see [the children] back where they belong. We would like to sincerely thank you and your team for all that you have done.”
“Thank you again for your help, you are amazing at your jobs and I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family so far.”
“I came to BWB to get legal advice and didn’t expect to be supported and encouraged by Rachel and Fadzai through the process, which has given me the strength to keep going until today when it settled. My friends, when they heard where I was going, told me that BWB is known for that.”
“I celebrated the removal of the immediate burden with a couple of dark amber ales – I am under no illusion that victory will have the same odds as Phar Lap returning from the dead and winning the next Melbourne Cup, But, just standing up for my rights and against the unwarranted injustice and nonsense that has been heaped to my door, already makes me feel like the jockey of the moment. I tip my hat to your professionalism and bow in gratitude – you treated me with compassion and kindness.”
“Thank you for your prompt reply. I very much appreciated your sincerity, directness, and the scope of your knowledge. It has sorted out a great deal in our lives and made me and my son aware of so many vital pieces of information. I will pass on the information. Thank you once again for your guidance”
“Thank you so much … I’m so happy with the outcome … I can’t thank you enough. I’m so thankful I had you on my side.”
“Hi Rachel, Fadzai, and Brittany and anyone else that has helped me out. Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 12 months… It had been a long and frustrating 12 months… Time to now to buy a new home and get back on track again. Thanks again for everything.”
“Thank you again Stephanie for the professional expertise and amazing prompt, efficient service that you and the Best Wilson Buckley Ipswich team provided to myself during this time.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of Stephanie and Cassie – they have been fantastic throughout the whole process.”
“Thanks Sophia, I appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you for your email and all the work BWBFL, Govind and yourself have done to get to this stage.”
“I truly am so grateful to you and everything you have done over the past year and a half. It has been a rollercoaster, however the compassion you show in your role gives family law practitioners a really great name. I think you know just how much it means to me and my family – which is what makes you great.”
“I want to thank you for being so steady and understanding in my situation. You made this process so much easier with your kind and gentle approach. You are a credit to your firm. It's a shame we never met you in person so I could shake your hand.”
“The letter is perfect. I can’t thank you enough. This letter honestly means the world to me and I appreciate your time in putting this together for me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for today. It was an amazing experience. I found it highly illuminating. I got everything I wanted and I see a clear path forward. Most important of all I have more time with my daughters than I dared to hope for. Cassie was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your work on this has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“I’m a bit lost for words… you have no idea of the pressures that have been lifted. Thank you for your guidance, devotion, and relentless focus on my case for the past three and a half years. It has been extremely long and mentally exhausting… I am blown away by [your] integrity and all the hard work you did on my behalf. I will always be grateful for your efforts and copious amounts of time, research, and understanding to ensure the best possible outcome for establishing and concreting the building blocks for a beautiful and meaningful relationship with my [girls]. Thank you once again.”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for the invaluable assistance both yourself and Katie have shown me. Your patience and guidance is appreciated and valued”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you again for going over and above, it's much appreciated and not lost on me.”
“Thank you so much Samantha for your continued support with my divorce. Much appreciated.”
“Golly Gosh, it’s so amazing. Thank you so much Kiara. I’m thinking the final orders may just be more obtainable now.”
“Cassie was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable.”
“Cassie and the team at BWB have been nothing short of amazing to deal with. For me the experience of dealing with a property settlement after divorce is something that I never wanted to have to go through, nor wish upon anyone else for that matter. However, in times where emotions are high, I would highly recommend getting help from the team at BWB, and having them provide you with the correct advice using their level heads. Navigating through any legal matters requires so much time and effort, so in my opinion, this is best left to the professionals. Cassie has been prompt and professional, yet at the same time understanding, and not at all bias in dealing with my personal matter which I was concerned about being a male. In fact I am glad that after researching law firms in Ipswich that I chose BWB and meet Cassie. So a big thank you Cassie, and it has been a pleasure in an unpleasant time dealing with you and I hope that anyone reading this testimonial will engage you to assist in their future family law matters. Thank you.”
“Your team was absolutely wonderful. Professional, discreet, sensitive and was just a guiding light in ensuring a speedy, yet practical outcome. All staff were courteous and nothing was ever an inconvenience to ask. Advice was timely and I always felt respected and heard. I had great confidence in Best Wilson Buckley and would definitely recommend them.”
“I would like to thank Jo Maloney who handled my Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. She showed professionalism and explained things to me in a down-to-earth manner.”
“Pure professionalism throughout the process, with exceptional advice and timely action that lead to the optimal outcome.”
“I especially want to thank Natalia and Adele for helping me with my property settlement – they were amazing. Natalia in particular showed nothing but professionalism – he didn’t keep me in the dark, he was up front and honest, and was very compassionate, understanding, and supportive… Natalia also made me aware of future costs so there weren’t any unexpected costs. I would like to thank the whole team at BWBFL for their support and I will definitely high recommend their services.”
“Thank you so much for your help! You helped me through times when I struggled to see the light weather you knew it or not. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!”
“Thank you so much for all your advice and knowledge. I am very happy with the result and can now get on with my life.”
“Thank you, so very much for your kindness, hard work and thoughts. Once again Cassie, you have been fabulous and I appreciate how easy you are to talk to and how contactable you have been.”
“Thanks again for your advice. I really hope that we do not need to meet with you for further guidance but we feel confident that if needed that you are a great fit for us.”
“Neal, I can’t thank you enough for your professional services and support over the last two years … I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you and I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you again for your invaluable assistance in bringing resolution to this matter yesterday. I was particularly impressed with your approach to the mediation.”
“I wanted to thank you for all your help throughout this journey. As stressful as the process was, you made it a lot easier to deal with. I really appreciate the help and support you have given me.”
“When we approached Lynn with our queries regarding a family law matter, we found her to be extremely helpful. After listening to our concerns, Lynn outlined the options available to us along with the pros and cons of each option. All our questions were answered in detail with the supporting reasons given. We found Lynn to be very knowledgeable in family law matters and her advice invaluable to us. We will certainly be seeking Lynn's advice should we require further assistance in the future.”
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart... I feel overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness… I appreciate all the hard work you are both doing to support me.”
“We are over the moon to see [the children] back where they belong. We would like to sincerely thank you and your team for all that you have done.”
“Thank you again for your help, you are amazing at your jobs and I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family so far.”
“I came to BWB to get legal advice and didn’t expect to be supported and encouraged by Rachel and Fadzai through the process, which has given me the strength to keep going until today when it settled. My friends, when they heard where I was going, told me that BWB is known for that.”
“I celebrated the removal of the immediate burden with a couple of dark amber ales – I am under no illusion that victory will have the same odds as Phar Lap returning from the dead and winning the next Melbourne Cup, But, just standing up for my rights and against the unwarranted injustice and nonsense that has been heaped to my door, already makes me feel like the jockey of the moment. I tip my hat to your professionalism and bow in gratitude – you treated me with compassion and kindness.”
“Thank you for your prompt reply. I very much appreciated your sincerity, directness, and the scope of your knowledge. It has sorted out a great deal in our lives and made me and my son aware of so many vital pieces of information. I will pass on the information. Thank you once again for your guidance”
“Thank you so much … I’m so happy with the outcome … I can’t thank you enough. I’m so thankful I had you on my side.”
“Hi Rachel, Fadzai, and Brittany and anyone else that has helped me out. Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 12 months… It had been a long and frustrating 12 months… Time to now to buy a new home and get back on track again. Thanks again for everything.”
“Thank you again Stephanie for the professional expertise and amazing prompt, efficient service that you and the Best Wilson Buckley Ipswich team provided to myself during this time.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of Stephanie and Cassie – they have been fantastic throughout the whole process.”
“Thanks Sophia, I appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you for your email and all the work BWBFL, Govind and yourself have done to get to this stage.”
“I truly am so grateful to you and everything you have done over the past year and a half. It has been a rollercoaster, however the compassion you show in your role gives family law practitioners a really great name. I think you know just how much it means to me and my family – which is what makes you great.”
“I want to thank you for being so steady and understanding in my situation. You made this process so much easier with your kind and gentle approach. You are a credit to your firm. It's a shame we never met you in person so I could shake your hand.”
“The letter is perfect. I can’t thank you enough. This letter honestly means the world to me and I appreciate your time in putting this together for me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for today. It was an amazing experience. I found it highly illuminating. I got everything I wanted and I see a clear path forward. Most important of all I have more time with my daughters than I dared to hope for. Cassie was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your work on this has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“I’m a bit lost for words… you have no idea of the pressures that have been lifted. Thank you for your guidance, devotion, and relentless focus on my case for the past three and a half years. It has been extremely long and mentally exhausting… I am blown away by [your] integrity and all the hard work you did on my behalf. I will always be grateful for your efforts and copious amounts of time, research, and understanding to ensure the best possible outcome for establishing and concreting the building blocks for a beautiful and meaningful relationship with my [girls]. Thank you once again.”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for the invaluable assistance both yourself and Katie have shown me. Your patience and guidance is appreciated and valued”
