The parties are required to sign a Collaborative Law participation agreement, and to participate in good faith to reach a negotiated agreement which furthers the interests of both parties and addresses both parties’ concerns. Each party must make full and fair disclosure to his/her own counsel and to the other party, of all facts and information pertinent to their legal matter and must refrain from asking or expecting the attorneys to advance unethical or illegal positions. The parties refrain from engaging in unnecessary discussions of past events, but rather focus upon positive communications designed to settle present legal issues promptly and economically.
In the absence of mutual agreement to the contrary, the parties discuss settlement only in the context of the four-way conference or other sanctioned environment. Settlement issues are not discussed in the presence of the parties’ children, at unplanned times by telephone, or by appearance at the other’s residence or place of employment.
