Collaborative practice is not for everyone. It may be the right process for your situation if you can answer "Yes" to most of the following questions:

• Are you willing to cooperate with your partner to resolve financial and parenting issues arising from your separation?
• Are you prepared to consider compromise solutions to resolve financial and parenting issues?
• Do you want to improve communication with your partner, especially over matters involving your children?
• Do you want to avoid the expense and animosity of court?
• Are you looking for a process that respects your values?
• Are there positive aspects of your relationship with your partner that you want to preserve?
• Do you want to have control over the process of reaching an agreement?
• Do you want the outcome to be decided by you and your partner, rather than a judge?

When Collaborative Practice Will Not Be The Right Option:

• The main objective of either partner is to seek revenge or to have a day in court
• You (or your partner) has a fixed outcome in mind which is not open for discussion or change
• Either partner thinks that the process will allow them to outmanoeuvre the other
• Either partner hopes to get away with giving less than a full and frank financial disclosure
• There is a history of domestic violence or other abuse
• In most cases, if court proceedings have started