The Integrative Family Law is a model that uses a team approach — like collaborative law model — but does not have the same type of participation agreements as a guideline. This model is better suited to cases where the relationship conflict are not high, but there are complexities with financial issues or custody arrangements.
The team of professions could include neutral financial, mental health, and legal advisors. The process starts with the parties agreement that they want to resolve their agreements in an amicable manner but they know they need professional assistance. They engage a neutral professional in the role of a mediator who helps gather information. Then the neutral performs a complexity analysis to help define issues.
The parties then work with a professional in the areas where they have unresolved issues with technical complexity. That may be a financial analyst, mental health professional or neutral legal advisor.
If the parties reach agreement on all issues, then the legal advisor would draft agreed orders for presentation to a judge. Alternatively, the agreement could be presented to an arbiter who could accept the agreement and draft a binding arbitration decision in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
