Membership Requirements  For  Howard County Collaborative Professionals

Attend Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training, minimum of 13 hours.

Require 4 out of 8 meetings: per year: Members sign in, pay, treasurer keeps record.

Comply with all the rules of HCCP as they evolve.

Complete 8 hours of advanced training (ADR, Collaborative Practice, Team Building- Enhancing Collaborative Practice In-services) per year documented with renewed membership. These 8 hours can include practice group meetings with an additional substantive educational component. **

A required membership with IACP simultaneous with membership with HCCP for all Attorneys, Mental Health professionals and Financial Neutrals. (Support Professionals are excluded from this criteria, but membership is encouraged.)

Pay annual HCCP and IACP membership dues. *

Agree to the public use of name on the List of Professionals maintained by HCCP once basic requirements are met.

Each Professional must be a member in good standing within their own profession.

Each Professional shall take responsibility to become familiar with the Best Practice Protocol Resource for a Full Team Model: Collaborative Divorce; D.C. Metro Protocols Committee.These are posted on the HCCP Website.

Noted: *IACP membership requires a minimum of 30 hours of Basic ADR and Negotiation Skills/ Mediation Training (within one year of becoming a member). HCCP strongly recommends this requirement be fulfilled. ** All trainings will be documented on the HCCP renewal/application form.

Each spouse has his or her own collaborative law attorney who works with them to explain issues and help achieve goals by mutual participation and agreement. Litigation can never be threatened. Mental health professionals and financial specialists are part of the settlement team to help both spouses resolve child-related decisions and complex financial issues related to taxes, budgeting, and property settlements.

Your divorce will likely be resolved in a healthier way and in the best interest of your children and family. You also have a better chance for improved communication between you and your spouse as you focus on creative problem solving rather than blame or revenge. Finally, you’ll potentially spend less time and money by staying out of court.

If you and your partner answer “yes” to these two questions, a collaborative path might be right for you:

• Are you and your spouse determined to act in a respectful, open, and honest manner in working out the terms of the divorce?
• Do you and your spouse value a negotiated solution that meets your needs now and in the future?

Collaborative Family Law was created by Minnesota Family Law Attorney, Stu Webb, in 1990. Stu had grown tired of the bitter nature of the divorce process and the negative effect it had on families. Today, it is the professional’s goal to help you come to settlement without litigation.