In collaborative law, all participate in an open, honest exchangeof information. Neither party takes advantage of the miscalculations or mistakes of the others, but instead identifies and corrects them.

In collaborative law, both parties insulate their children from their disputes and, should custody be an issue, they avoid court.

Both parties in collaborative law use joint experts and other consultants, instead of adversarial experts.

In collaborative law, a respectful, creative effort to meet the legitimate needs of both spouses replaces tactical bargaining backed by threats of litigation.

In collaborative law, the lawyers must guide the process to settlement or withdraw from further participation, unlike adversarial lawyers, who remain involved whether the case settles or goes to court.