Our Purpose
We help families discover the benefits of collaborative solutions for marriage dissolution, child custody and co-parenting issues, division of assets and more.
The Collaborative Professionals of Richmond is a practice group of independent professionals, each with their own individual business and practice, comprised of financial neutrals, mental health coaches & child specialists, and attorneys, all located in the central Virginia area. In addition to being highly trained in their respective fields, all members of our local practice group have undergone additional extensive training in collaborative practice.
Divorce is one of the most stressful and traumatic life transitions that any individual or family may encounter. Though not the outcome anyone envisions when they marry or partner with someone, it is the unfortunate reality for many.
When you retain any of the independent professionals of the Collaborative Professionals of Richmond and form a collaborative “team,” you and your team members will use the principles of the Collaborative practice to settle, in a non-adversarial and private manner, the issues arising from the dissolution of your marriage/domestic partnership and the restructuring of your family.
The essence of Collaborative practice is the shared belief that it is in the best interests of your family to commit yourselves to avoid the use of litigation and litigation-based strategic negotiation techniques. By doing so, you agree to resolve your issues in the best interest of both spouses/partners and your children.
This form of alternative dispute resolution does not rely on a court-imposed resolution. It does rely on honesty, cooperation, integrity, civility and full disclosure, and a focus on the future well-being of the whole family.
Going through divorce or separation can make you feel isolated and alone, unsure of where to turn for support and advice. Unlike conventional legal process, Collaborative Practice offers you a team of skilled and compassionate professionals. Each expert in their own fields, the team members help you manage the many aspects of divorce – the legal issues, the emotional turmoil, the concerns for your children and the financial and property questions. With such support you’ll feel more in control of the process itself, and better equipped to begin a new life afterwards.
COACHES & CHILD SPECIALISTS
Coaches help guide you through communication breakdowns and Child Specialists provide a voice and resource for your children.
FINANCIAL NEUTRALS
Provide neutral financial advice in support of the entire family
ATTORNEYS
Each attorney is the advisor of his or her own client and serves as the client’s representative, counselor and advocate
The Collaborative process is a comparatively new way for couples to resolve disputes arising from their separation respectfully, without going to court, while working with professionals trained and experienced in the financial, legal and emotional aspects of custody disputes and divorce.
The process offers individuals the support, protection, and guidance of their own lawyers, including a team of other professionals – child specialists, financial neutrals, and communication coaches – all working together to help you create a lasting, durable agreement.
Clients agree to work toward the resolution of issues in a series of meetings which will include the attorneys and any mental health professionals, financial professionals and/or other experts that they and their attorneys agree to include as part of the process.
Many Collaborative divorces result in settlements because of the shared commitments of the parties and the professionals to the Collaborative process. The family’s time and money is not spent asserting positions and fighting over limited resources. Instead, resources are used only to help guide the parties in developing, evaluating and accepting a durable resolution that reflects the parties’ commitment to work together respectfully. By choosing the Collaborative process, you choose a future that reflects your desire for an agreement that works for you, your spouse and your children.
During the Collaborative Process, no pleading or motion will be prepared or filed with any court. If either client initiates contested legal proceedings against the other, the Collaborative process is immediately terminated. Each client’s Collaborative attorney’s representation is limited to the Collaborative process and non-adversarial representation. While each attorney is the advisor of his or her own client and serves as the client’s representative, counselor, and advocate, the clients agree that neither of their attorneys can ever represent either client in a contested court proceeding against the other, or appear as counsel for them with respect to this or any related matter in any court or on any court filings other than a mutually-agreed submission of documents to obtain an uncontested divorce or other mutually-agreed consent order.