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Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Law allows you to be in control – rather than dealing through your solicitors, you work with them, to reach the best solutions for you and your family. You and your former partner, with the help of solicitors, sit down together in the same room, face to face, and reach a mutual agreement, particularly over property and financial issues. This allows you to have expert legal advice without the threat of court action plus it can be done on your own schedule.

Over all other processes available, the Collaborative process has been independently proven to give participants the greatest levels of satisfaction with the results. However, for the process to work each party needs to have a genuine commitment to reach an agreement that is fair to the whole family without going to court as well as a willingness to disclose, fully and honestly, information about all their assets.

Before couples can engage in a Collaborative process they need to independently appoint a Collaboratively trained lawyer who will assess their capacity to engage successfully in the process, which is where we can help.

If we feel this process will work for you, we will conduct a series of round table meetings that include both parties with their respective lawyers negotiating the settlement in an open and constructive manner. Other independent and impartial advisers who are familiar with the collaborative process may be required if and when that support is needed, for example arrangements for children through a family consultant or particular aspects of property that can be dealt with by financial adviser.  All these professionals will collectively make up your ‘collaborative team’.

We ensure we interpret each parties objectives are and keep our clients forward focussed. We also understand skills in negotiating include being able to identify which options are likely to meet both parties needs and that the best solution may in fact be suggested by the other lawyer.

Once the essential agreement has been reached the lawyers will frame this in the terms of an order that can be made by a court to bind them for the future. This provides assurance for the future and allows each party to go their own separate ways having taken responsibility for the working out of the ending of their relationship.

For further advice on the Collaborative process please contact one of the team today to see how we can help.

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    Meet the Team

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    Jonathan Talbot

    Partner — Family

    Direct dial: 01202 377844

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    Jonathan Talbot
    • “Jonathan has been amazing at helping me get a resolution with my ex-husband. He was a great listener when I was getting very upset about clauses in our old divorce agreement that were not being adhered to and reacted really quickly with a letter and support. I would not hesitate to ask Jonathan for help again but please excuse me if I hope that doesn’t happen for a while as we all know dealing with ex's is never much fun! Thank you Jonathan.”

      Sharron Davies, MBE

    • “Very happy with how you dealt with my case. Many thanks for your help and advice from Mr Talbot and his secretary.”

      Jan Saad

    • “Jonathan Talbot explained the process and how things would proceed. He was very patient allowing us time to understand and adapt to our new situation. Legal language can be quite difficult to understand and he would explain what it meant and how it would impact.”

      Rae Frederick

    • “I always use Laceys for my legal work, I feel able to talk to them and I know they listen. They have always been professional and kind.”

      Dawn Aston

    • “I’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to you and Shannon for helping me through this difficult time, I am really very appreciative to have had you on my team this year, you’ve been an enormous support. ”

      Mrs W

    Jonathan heads up Laceys family department and having qualified as a Solicitor in 1983, he has over 35 years experience in Family Law.

    He specialises in Family and Relationship Breakdowns, Financial Remedies, Collaborative Law and International Family Law.

    Jonathan has a exceptional caring nature and will always strive to find solutions to family issues outside of the court if at all possible.

    Outside of work Jonathan likes to keep himself busy by competing in Ironman 70.3’s when he gets the chance – which are no easy feat at having to complete a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and then a 13.1 mile run each race!

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