July 17, 2025
Forced marriage could be happening more often than figures suggest, a solicitor claims, after shedding light into the reality of her cases.
Collaborative family law solicitors
Going through a divorce or separation is tough. At Switalskis, we have specially trained collaborative family law solicitors ready to work with you to negotiate a separation agreement that works for you.
Collaborative law is an alternative to court proceedings and gives you control of your separation, from the way you split your property, childcare and finances to how long the process takes and who it involves. The collaborative process has face-to-face meetings at a mutually agreed time and location, with you, your ex-partner and your collaborative solicitors. The aim is to resolve matters away from the court, but still offer strong legal advice and support along the way through a trained collaborative law solicitor.
The focus of a collaborative divorce is to avoid you or your ex taking a strong position. Instead we concentrate on solutions that meet the needs of everyone as much as possible. We can also include financial, child and other experts to join the meetings so you can get advice from relevant experts and achieve the best outcome together.
Our family solicitors offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation to explain the collaborative process and work out which is is the best approach for you. The team are based across Yorkshire and work with clients from Leeds and Wakefield to Sheffield and Scarborough.
Call and speak to one of our collaborative family law solicitors today on 0800 1380 458 , or contact us through our website . We're here to give you the caring, timely support you need when you need it most.
For a free initial consultation, give us a call us on 0800 138 0458 or get in touch via our website.
Sitting in a room face-to-face with your ex-partner might seem overwhelming, but you're not alone. At Switalskis, our solicitors combine keen legal insight with a real understanding of the emotional challenges you're facing. They're also trained in conflict management, and are capable of de-escalating high emotions.
We're here to help you navigate each step with a collaborative approach. We'll break down what rights and options you have, adapting our guidance to fit your specific circumstances. We aim to answer all your queries in a private and supportive environment away from the court, making the whole process less intimidating.
Many of our lawyers are part of Resolution, a respected group of family law specialists. This means you can trust us to give you up-to-date, high-quality advice. We're well-versed in the ins and outs of collaborative law, fully ready to offer you the expert advice you need.
We're nationally recognised as a top-tier family team by Legal500, who say 'Switalskis solicitors have a specialist team that are knowledge rich and highly specialised in the service their provide to their clients.'
Collaborative family law is a method of resolving family law issues, such as divorce or separation, without resorting to court proceedings. It's a client-centred approach that empowers you to resolve your problems constructively.
It involves a series of meetings where the couple, along with their collaboratively trained lawyers, work together to agree on how their separation will be handled, including splitting any property, finances, debts, and childcare arrangements.
Collaborative approaches aim to give you control by using a less confrontational and more flexible structure than a traditional courtroom setting. This is achieved by an open and transparent process where you are both encouraged to avoid coming with fixed ideas about what to expect.
At the start of the process, the solicitors, you and your former partner sign an agreement committing you to doing your best to make the collaborative approach work. You will also be asked to outline what issues and elements are most and least important to you and your partner will be asked the same. We'll then work together to come up with as many solutions as possible, which aim to meet as many of those interests for both of you that we can with the resources available.
When you reach the end of the collaborative process, your solicitors will draft the legal documents for you and your ex partner to sign, making them legally binding for both parties. Should either of you break the agreement, you can enforce this through the courts. It means that even though you have been through a collaborative separation process you are still legally protected. However, if you and your ex can't agree, then your collaborative solicitor is not able to represent you in court at a later date.
The objective is to keep you in control and support both sides to an agreement. It means you set the agenda so you talk about the things that matter to you most, whether it’s about the dog or the family home. You, your partner and your collaborative solicitors sit together and help you work things out.
You set the pace. There are no court dates dictating the process so you can deal with your issues quickly or take your time. You can also include other professionals in the process who may be helpful, like family consultants and financial experts.
Typically, there are two to four meetings and you control the pace and timings of the meetings. The benefit of not going to court is that you have more control over the timing. The pace depends on you and what you need to arrange. Some situations are resolved in just a couple of months. Some may take longer, and will depend on individual circumstances, although the overall process is usually quicker than court. The other advantage is that if things become emotional you are able to leave the room, have some air and regather your thoughts which wouldn't be possible in a court room. Your solicitors can also call a pause on the meeting if they feel things are beginning to lose direction or are becoming heated, meaning there is less risk of fall outs and upset.
Each case varies depending on the time spent. We will provide you with an estimate of your costs at the outset and keep your costs under close review. Initially it can seem more expensive than traditional litigation but it is often cheaper, especially if you can avoid court proceedings.
In order or collaborative law proceedings to be successful, you should enter your meetings well-prepared with the following:
Every situation is different, so it's important you take the right steps for you. Collaborative law can offer many benefits, including:
Traditionally when couples separate, they each take advice from their solicitors. They work through their solicitors to try to reach an agreement on how to split their assets and, if applicable, the responsibilities for their children.
While it’s possible to reach an agreement this way, those who don’t will have to go through the courts, which can take up to two years along with the uncertainty that litigation can bring added costs.
This means it will be the court that decides what action is most appropriate for you and your family.
Collaborative law and mediation might seem similar, but they're not the same. In collaborative law, you and your partner each have a collaborative solicitor with you all the time, giving you legal advice as you go along. In mediation, there's just one person - the mediator - who helps both of you. The mediator can give you general legal information, but they'll tell you to get your own solicitor for personalised advice.
To get started or learn more call us on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch through our form.
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Navigating collaborative law and separation can be a challenge, but you're not alone. At Switalskis, we give you clear, straightforward advice to help you through uncertain times.
Collaborative law can seem full of confusing legal terms. Don't worry; we're experts at simplifying things. We'll walk you through the process from start to finish, making sure you're clued in at every stage.
Collaborative law isn't just about advising you through the legal steps; we understand that family matters are a big deal in your life. Our team doesn't just know the law; we actively listen to the issues that matter most to you. We tailor our services to give you exactly what you need.
We're good at what we do. When you're dealing with collaborative law, you need solid advice. No matter how complex your case, you can rely on us to handle it well.
We're not just about filling out paperwork; we support you from start to finish. Our goal is to set you up for a successful future once your collaborative family law case is settled.
If you're considering using collaborative family law and need advice that's all about you, give our team a call today at 0800 138 0458 or send us a message via our website.