Collaborative Law Attorney
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

What Is Collaborative Divorce?

Would you rather work together than fight your opponent in court? Is it important to you that the relationship with the person(s) on the other side of your dispute be preserved? If you are going through a divorce, do you wish to avoid the damage children suffer when the family is dragged through a nasty legal battle?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then the “Collaborative Process” may be right for you.

Collaborative Law Practice is a voluntary dispute resolution process in which parties settle without resorting to litigation.

In Collaborative Law Practice:

Daniel W. Willems is trained in the collaborative process and is a member of the Collaborative Attorneys of Eastern Iowa
and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

• The parties sign a collaborative participation agreement which describes the nature and scope of their dispute.

• The parties voluntarily disclose all information that is relevant and important to the issues to be decided.  There is no “hiding the ball” allowed.

• The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable settlement.

• Each party is represented by a lawyer trained in the collaborative process.  The lawyers are contractually required to terminate their representation upon the undertaking of any contested court proceeding between the parties.

• The parties engage neutral experts to assist in the problem-solving process.  The experts are contractually required to terminate their representation upon the undertaking of any contested court proceeding between the parties.  In a collaborative divorce process, these experts may include mental health professionals, child specialists, and financial professionals.

To see what the Collaborative Process was like for a divorcing couple with children, watch this video from collaborativepractice.com >>