Collaborative Law | Family Law | Howells Solicitors
Make a payment

Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law

During the Divorce process there is always the risk of the ‘bad divorce’. This is an inability to agree, lengthy Court proceedings, rising costs and growing anger and distress. Collaborative law may not be able to guarantee avoiding the ‘bad’ but it greatly increases the chances of securing the ‘good’.

What is Collaborative Law?

Collaborative law offers the opportunity for both parties, with their respective solicitors, to come together to work out mutually acceptable terms for a separation. The process avoids involving the Courts to make decisions on your behalf.

Collaborative law is an out of court option where you work through the various issues constructively with your ex partner. This is an amicable process with the personal support of your own solicitor.

During a four way meeting with the couple and the 2 collaborative specialists you amicably discuss, negotiate and agree on divorce matters, such as settlements and arrangements.

A formal Participation Agreement sets out the way in which the discussions and negotiations will be conducted but the emphasis is on normal, constructive conversations in an open and supportive environment.

Collaborative law is not meant as a short cut. Everything is considered as closely as it would be in normal Court-driven proceedings, but it does have the advantage of the parties working to their own timetable and reaching outcomes that are jointly agreed.

The benefits of collaborative law are:

  • It is a safe environment in which to talk and discuss the outcomes of a divorce
  • You have the benefit of two specially trained lawyers working collaboratively with you, looking at what is best for you and your family
  • Your own lawyer is there to support and advise you
  • You set priorities and decide together how quickly or slowly you want to take things

How we can help

Our Collaborative lawyers can assist clients to reach comprehensive and realistic settlements, to include:

We will aim to achieve the best possible settlement within the spirit of the collaborative agreement laying a strong foundation for the achievement of a ‘good divorce’ through cooperation and communication, whilst minimising the costs – both emotional and financial – of divorce proceedings.

Our Family Law Fees

Our family law team offer transparent and affordable prices to suit all financial circumstances. You will always be kept up to date with costs and they offer fixed fees for most areas, so you are always in full control.

Find a full list of our fees here.

Join Our Mailing List

Join our newsletter and receive news, legal help and exclusive offers from our team. Sign up here

Free Consultation

The family law team offer a free 30-minute consultation on your first appointment, which can be made face-to-face, on the phone or by video call, as well as flexible appointments that can be arranged to fit around lunch breaks or work commitments. Contact us on 0114 2496666 to make an appointment.

Book Now

How can we help? Contact us today

Contact us on 0114 2496666 and one of our advisors will be in touch to discuss your situation. We will take some initial information and if we can help, we will book you in for a consultation with a legal professional.

Contact Us

Family Law Articles

Request a Call back

The Howells Solicitors law team are compassionate, down-to-earth and professional, offering you the best expert advice. Get in touch with solicitors in Sheffield, Rotherham, and Barnsley to see how we can help. Fill in the form or give us a call at:

The Collaborative Law team

The Howells Matrimonial team is one of the best in the country and one of the largest in South Yorkshire. They been consistently highly ranked for family law work in the north by the Legal 500. Howells have over 40 years’ experience supporting families and are ranked high on Review Solicitors where they have a rating of 4.9 out of 5 for their client care. The team are also accredited by Resolution and the Law Society.

Sensitive and compassionate in her client relationships, Alyson Siddal understands that she is not dealing with ‘cases’ but with people, not bound by legal process but in real lives. Furthermore, Alyson has been a key part of Howells Solicitors for over 30 years and offers a wealth of expertise and experience. Alyson and the Matrimonial team are highly ranked in the Legal 500 rankingswith specific feedback on Alyson which is “Alyson Siddall is a very experienced matrimonial lawyer who is personable and approachable in addition to being an excellent solicitor”.

Sharon Lockwood is a highly regarded Family Law and Divorce Solicitor in Rotherham, with a specialism at dealing with complex cases involving children and high value assets. Sharon is very active in the local community of South Yorkshire and receives a high amount of praise from her clients and colleagues and has established herself as one of the most distinguish divorce specialists in the region.

John Clegg is a family specialist and covers all aspects of Matrimonial law including divorce, civil partnership and cohabitation breakdown, financial matters arising on separation and divorce, pre and post-nuptial agreements and protection from domestic abuse.

Legal 500

The Legal 500 2022 edition ranks Family as a top tier firm in Yorkshire and Humber, saying “Family head Alyson Siddall, matrimonial specialist Sharon Lockwood and children team head Sarah Walker are the key names at Howells Solicitors. Based in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley respectively, they oversea a team that is particularly well  known for high net worth cases with assets ranging from three to six million pounds.

The firm recently expanded its department with the addition of a collaborative law facility. John Clegg is an additional name to note.”

Alyson Siddall

Family Law

0114 249 6659
Wendy Bailey

Family Law

01226 805 190