Collaborative Family Law Practice

Collaborative Family Law Practice, including Collaborative Family Law and Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce, is a way to resolve disputes respectfully and without going to court, while working with trained professionals.  It provides you and your spouse or partner the support, protection, and guidance of your own lawyers without going to court.  Additionally, Collaborative Divorce allows you the benefit of child and financial specialists, divorce coaches and other professionals all working together on your team.  provides comprehensive legal and emotional support and financial expertise to you during your divorce or the resolution of other family legal issues.

It differs from traditional legal services in these ways:

1. The process is entirely based on moving you and your partner to resolution of all of the issues that are important to both of you;

2. The lawyers are not hired to go to court. While you and your partner are in collaborative practice, everyone (you and your spouse, both lawyers, and any other professionals involved in the case) are covered by a written agreement (the Participation Agreement) that says no one involved will appear in court. So long as you and your spouse are in the collaborative process, neither one of you will bring on a court application;

3.  The core element is that the parties will negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement without having court decide issues;

4. If you are not successful in resolving matters in the collaborative process, then either you or your spouse may hire a new lawyer to start a court application; and 

5. Both spouses agree to make full disclosure of all necessary documents and information, and agree to negotiate in good faith.

I am a member of COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE Vancouver, and listed on its website under headings The Team, Lawyers, Vancouver.

Send an email to info@gilsig.ca to book an appointment to meet with our Collaborative Family Lawyer, Marla Gilsig