Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce doesn’t just mean a generally amicable divorce. It is a specific out of court process with specially trained professionals, designed to provide support to you as you negotiate your settlement. Kate can act as your advocate in this type of process.

This process can be sized to fit your needs. It can include coaches, financial professionals and child specialists as well as attorneys, or maybe just a mediator with a Collaboratively-trained attorney available for each spouse. The defining feature of this process is that everyone agrees that the professionals will withdraw if someone decides to abandon the settlement negotiations and start again in court. This gives incentive to see it through. It also means that this process is not for everyone.

You will meet 1:1 with your attorney and negotiate with the whole Collaborative team present. You agree to honestly exchange information and seek a clear understanding about needs and expectations, especially focusing on the well-being of your kids. The terms of your divorce will be decided by mutual problem-solving.

Why Collaborative?

Divorce, family disputes and other legal conflicts do not have to be an unending fight. 

Life is full of the unexpected. Things change. People grow. Marriages end. Child and spousal support needs change. You might be unsure what you should do and need some guidance. As an attorney, I believe these changes do not have to be unnecessarily painful, for you or the people you care about. 

Litigation focuses on the past. In the Collaborative process, you control the outcome in a private process, supported by professionals. Instead of exchanging letters and talking through attorneys, we sit at the table together and work it out in real time.

When I act as your advocate, I think about two things: your present and future needs around your family, your money, your time, and your peace of mind. I will give you clear advice and guidance throughout the process.

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More About Collaborative

Collaborative Divorce requires that each spouse or party has their own advocate. If you or your spouse is interested in working with Collaborative Professionals, it’s important to find the right fit. You can share the following links for more information.

The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)

What is Collaborative?

IACP Frequently Asked Questions

Clackamas Collaborative Divorce

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  • If I have a super power, it's finding the right professional at the right time and I've clearly done it again. I can't tell you how nice it was not to wake up on the verge of panic yesterday [after our first meeting]. It's been a while. Thanks for giving me some breathing room!

    Collaborative Client

  • Thank you so much for the wise counsel, your patience, and your kindness. You've made this the best experience it could possibly be, and I won't hesitate to recommend you to friends who may be contemplating a collaborative process. I really appreciate the extra safeguards you put in the settlement regarding the sale of the house, for understanding my need to maintain momentum, for keeping this on track, and for helping me to meet the goals I set out.

    Collaborative Client

  • “My first appointment with Kate Hall, was filled with the emotions of a Divorce. Kate was direct & confident, I felt it in her voice & handshake... My input was important & heard. Professional, down to earth & confident - that would be my best explanation for The Law Office of Kate Hall. For a very difficult time in life, it was simplified with Kate’s guidance.”

    Robert G., via google

  • Kate Hall was absolutely wonderful. She is warm, professional, down to earth and very reasonable in her approach to difficult situations. I would highly recommend her to everyone.

    Shawna S., via google

  • Even an amicable divorce is hard, really hard. Kate is a great lawyer with an amazing eye for detail. My ex’s attorney was a good but I have not doubt my attorney, Kate, was better. She’s a balance of fierce advocate and compassionate counselor. When I was swayed by emotion, Kate had a steady hand on the tiller and got me through the hardest time of my life. I needed a support settlement to help me start my new life. Kate walked me through the math so when negotiating face-to-face I knew what I was asking for was reasonable in the eyes of the law. I spent a lot of sleepless nights worrying about my divorce but I didn’t spend one minute worrying if I hired the right attorney. Kate’s great!

    Elge P., via google

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