Many when they hear about collaborative practice wonder how long as it been around. “Is this a fairly new process? Has it been around a long time?  What’s the history?”

These are all questions that many ask before they agree to engage in it. In part, this is because many want to know that this is a trusted process before they put their faith in it.

The reality is collaborative practice has been around since 1990. It was founded by a family lawyer in Minnesota by the name of Stuart Webb. Since that time, collaborative practice has spread around the world to various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. This, quite simply, is not a new process that individuals cannot trust.

The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”) now has thousands of members and really sets forth the standards for how collaborative family law matters are to be handled worldwide. This means that there is an international organization that sets forth standards and guidelines for collaborative practice worldwide based on what has worked.

In sun, collaborative practice is a process that has been around more than a quarter of a century now. The procedures and processes have been tested and applied in countless divorce and family law matters around the world. For individuals who are looking for a way to settle their divorce or family law matter outside of court, they can trust this process as a form of alternative dispute resolution.

While many want to settle their divorce or family law matter outside of court, mediation does not work for a lot of parties. This is because many are unable to enter an agreement on all issues.

Many also do not want to submit their divorce or family law matter to arbitration. With arbitration, one arbitrator gets to decide the result and the parties would ordinarily lose all appeal rights. That can make that process pretty unappealing to most parties.

This can leave the collaborative process as really the best form of alternative dispute resolution for those looking to amicably resolve their divorce or family law matter outside of court. The use of professionals such a financial neutral, divorce coach and a child custody professional can often go a long way toward helping get a case resolved. There is a reason that this form of alternative dispute resolution has been growing so quickly since 1990.