Hayley Cunningham is a trained collaborative practitioner and committee member of Queensland Collaborative Law (QCL).

The terms Collaborative Law and Collaborative Practice are both used to describe a process for negotiation.

The collaborative process is a shared binding commitment to avoid going to Court. The goal is to identify the underlying needs of both you and your former spouse, and explore all of the alternatives that might be available to meet those needs.

If this process is chosen then a meeting will take place, with both you and your former partner/spouse present, and legal representatives for both parties. An agenda may be drawn up, and there may be discussions about entering into a participation contract. A series of further meetings (each of around two hours or so – maybe longer) may take place over a number of weeks to identify the issues and work through the possible options for resolution.

The participation contract will exclude your lawyer from representing you if Court proceedings are commenced. This agreement is to ensure a commitment to the process and free exchange of information.

Experts can be involved. This includes social workers / psychologists / psychiatrists / counsellors in parenting case, or a valuer/accountant/financial advisor in financial cases.

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