Mediation & Collaborative Law

Mediation & Collaborative Lawyers Aberdeen & Stonehaven

If you are experiencing changes in your family life, for example as a consequence of divorce, there will be important decisions that will need to be made by everyone involved. This process can be a difficult one – disputes can easily arise at such an emotional and stressful time. The mediation and collaborative law solicitors at James & George Collie are experts when it comes to supporting clients to make decisions about important family matters, offering advice that is clear and honest, delivered sensitively and sympathetically.

Susan Waters and Louise Armstrong are trained as Collaborative Family Lawyers.

We have been trusted by families throughout Aberdeenshire for over 175 years to provide legal advice that is accurate and reliable. We are proud to say that we have built relationships with clients across generations – people return to us as they know that the service we provide is exceptionally high in quality and at a fair price. Our court team are both dependable and proactive in their approach, providing strategic support to help you reach a fair and equitable consensus no matter your circumstances.

Speak with a member of our team today to find out how we can help.

What is mediation?

Mediation is used as an alternative to court proceedings, particularly in family cases when a couple separates and need to resolve issues such as the division of finances and assets, as well as making arrangements for the care of their children. A neutral third party, known as the ‘mediator', facilitates this process by helping negotiations progress.

A professionally trained independent mediator can help with matters such as how property, savings, pensions and debts should be shared; residency and contact arrangements for children; and making arrangements for child maintenance payments.

How does mediation work?

You and your ex-partner will meet with your mediator to discuss the issues that need to be resolved and to find the most suitable approach for you. Additional meetings can then be arranged to address these issues in detail, with the goal being to reach agreement on proposals that are suitable for both of you. Once consensus has been achieved, your mediator will draw up a summary of the details which will form the basis of a legally binding agreement. If required, your mediator can confirm to the court that mediation took place and that agreement was reached on these crucial matters.

What is collaborative law?

In Collaborative Family Law, each party retains their own trained Collaborative Solicitor to assist in negotiating agreement on financial and, if relevant, child related issues. This differs significantly from “traditional” methods of resolving family disputes in that all negotiations take place in “four way” meetings at which the clients actively participate. Furthermore, the parties contract at the very outset of the process not to take their dispute into Court. It is the aim of all who enter the Collaborative Law process to achieve settlement without going to Court or, indeed, threatening to go to Court. Again, when settlement terms have been agreed, the Solicitors acting for the parties will draw up an Agreement recording the terms of that agreement.

Issues are discussed around a table to reach a fair and equitable agreement and are led by a qualified collaborative lawyer. The objective is to resolve matters quickly and in a straightforward matter without the need for drawn out and expensive court action.

Contact our Mediation and Collaborative Law Solicitors based in Aberdeen & Stonehaven today

All of our solicitors are based locally and are friendly and approachable. If you have any questions, we will strive to answer them as quickly and straightforwardly as possible, free of legal jargon.

As a full-service firm, our civil court solicitors can work with colleagues in other relevant departments, for example, our family law and property law departments, to provide you with comprehensive advice uniquely tailored to your needs.

Call us on 01224 581581, or complete our online enquiry form.

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