Resolving Family
Law Matters
with Respect
and Integrity
CLI Minnesota is the birthplace
of Collaborative Law
What is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative Divorce is a voluntary legal process that allows couples to resolve divorce and other family law matters without asking a judge to make decisions for them.
Each spouse has their own specially trained Collaborative Divorce Attorney, and neutral professionals are made available to provide expertise in areas such as financial matters, child development, communication, or parenting.
Together, everyone works toward negotiated agreements that meet the needs of the entire family. The Collaborative Professionals are trained to provide a team approach with expert advice built into the model–to help all family members meet their needs.
Unlike traditional litigation, the goal is not to defeat the other person in a one-time contest which damages the ability of couples to work together in future. The Collaborative Team recognizes that–especially where children are involved–couples may need to work together long into the future. The goal is to solve problems, help couples develop easier and more productive ways to manage conflict, and create durable agreements that everyone understands and supports.
Building Better Futures with Collaborative Law
Divorce and other family legal matters can be emotionally and financially challenging, but they do not have to become expensive courtroom battles. Collaborative Divorce offers a respectful, private, and solution-focused alternative that helps families resolve disputes while preserving important relationships.
The Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota (CLI-MN) is a network of specially trained professionals committed to helping Minnesota families reach lasting agreements outside of court. By combining legal guidance with professional financial, parenting, and emotional support, Collaborative Divorce gives families the tools they need to make informed decisions and move forward with confidence. Collaborative Team members must be licensed in their respective fields (as mental health professionals, financial analysts or attorneys) but also typically have mediation training as well.
Rather than focusing on winning or losing, Collaborative Divorce focuses on creating practical solutions that protect your family’s future.
Cost Savings
Collaborative Team Divorce helps families to save divorce costs through much of the process being managed by one neutral expert (such as a Financial Professional or Child/Family Specialist). For example, most couples are able to supply their own verifiable financial information directly to the Financial Professional, so Attorneys are not billing time to collect this information in a formal way to produce “evidence”. Collaborative Divorce is a form of “limited services representation” in which Attorneys are not hired to prepare for a court trial, but rather only as needed for consultation, creative solutions, and drafting of final legal agreements for court submission.
How Collaborative Divorce Works
The Collaborative Divorce process is built on cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect.
- Resolve family law matters without going to court.
- Share relevant and reliable financial and legal information openly.
- Focus on problem-solving instead of conflict.
- Work toward solutions that reflect each family’s unique goals and priorities.
- Communicate respectfully throughout the process.
Minnesota Collaborative Divorce Podcast
The Minnesota Collaborative Divorce Podcast brings insightful conversations with thought leaders, legal professionals, and community advocates who are transforming how families navigate conflict and divorce. Hosted by Judy Johnson, current president of Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota, each episode shares real-life stories and expert insights on parenting plans, financial well-being, and emotional healing, offering tools and hope for anyone, legal professional or family, seeking a better way forward.
Supporting Partners
Dave Jamison
rainbowmortgageinc.com
Racheal Howitz
ourfamilywizard.com
Brett Jensen
www.strategicmediationsolutions.com
Recent Blogs
Collaborative Practice attorney Audra Holbeck takes us on a magical journey in this Part I blog inspired by Harry Potter, exploring how Collaborative professionals use their own special tools to transform conflict, encourage cooperation, and create positive solutions for families navigating divorce.
Continue Reading The Magic of the Collaborative Process – Part 1
Throughout this series, we explored how the core developmental skills children learn by playing can completely reshape how adults approach divorce. By taking these childhood “powers of play” out of the bottom of the grown-ups’ toolbox, couples can shift their mindset from a destructive war into a healthy transition. Here is a summary of how…
Continue Reading (RE)LEARNING THE SEVEN POWERS OF PLAY – PART 5
When you hear “The Federal Reserve raised interest rates,” it sounds like bad news—especially if you’re going through a divorce and trying to figure out what happens to the house. But it’s not quite that simple. Think of the economy like a car going too fast. Inflation means prices are rising too quickly. One of…
Continue Reading The Fed Just Raised Rates — But That Could Actually Create an Opportunity
What Clients Say About the Collaborative Process
[The Collaborative divorce process] provided a forum for my partner and I to effectively communicate and understand the other’s emotions. In addition, having two professionals on ‘my team’ gave me the ability to think through my choices when away from the table.
The benefit [of the Collaborative process] is that it is less costly, faster, and definitely more fair in that you have the professional support (financially, legally and mental health-wise) not provided in mediation. I felt my needs and concerns were heard and fought for, and that I came out of the process feeling more whole and positive than a typical adversarial divorce would have been.
The financial professional was able to articulate more clearly the options of the settlement in order to keep things moving along. The mental health professional was able to keep the proceedings calm and provide a voice of reason.
I found the process valuable because it kept us focused on finding outcomes that met our goals for our children and our financial security. And unlike most people we know, our divorce process preserved our friendship rather than driving us further apart.
I believe without the collaborative process I would not have been able to get all that I did…I liked having my concerns (esp. financial concerns) addressed by the team as they were able to make him aware of what was fair to all parties involved. The ones that have most benefited from the collaborative process [have] been my children. Our parenting plan covered more than just the standard issues.
My lawyer and Coach were phenomenal – we worked as a team and met and communicated regularly regarding my goals and best interests, plus inspired and supported me as a valued person. I highly recommend the collaborative process.