Resolving Disputes Respectfully

Collaborative Divorce

The heart of Collaborative Practice is to offer you and your spouse or partner the support, protection, and guidance of your own lawyers without going to court. Additionally, Collaborative Practice allows you the benefit of child and financial specialists, divorce coaches and other professionals all working together on your team.

In Collaborative Practice, core elements form your contractual commitments, which are to:

  • Negotiate a mutually
    acceptable settlement
    without having courts
    decide issues.
  • Maintain communication
    and information sharing.
  • Create shared solutions
    acknowledging the highest
    priorities of all.

How it Can Help You!


  • Find a solution to your separation rather than assign blame
  • Takes place outside of the purview of the court system
  • No pressure and uncertainties which accompany litigation
  • Each party selects an attorney of their own choosing
  • Collaborative divorce gives the parties more control
  • A team of experts can be used to address unique issues and specialized concerns

Get Started


Find a Collaborative Attorney

Membership in MJCLA

We welcome attorneys, mental health specialists, financial professionals and member of related professions who are committed to the collaborative process to join the Mid-Jersey Collaborative Law Alliance (MJCLA).  Our group fosters the collaborative process through the sharing of information and the dissemination of materials to other professionals and to the clients we seek to serve.

MJCLA serves professionals and clients primarily in Mercer, Middlesex and southern Somerset counties.  We provide  a Directory of trained and qualified professionals for use by our members to share with their clients.  Our group meets regularly to share information about the collaborative process and foster our knowledge and expertise in helping clients through collaborative divorce.

Upon joining, MJCLA you commit to take 16 hours of collaborative training and 8 hours of mediation training within 12 months, if you have not already done so.  Of course, we encourage continuing education and these are only the minimum requirements.   The application for membership can be obtained by clicking on this link.  A one-time application fee of $300 is required.  Annual dues are $200.

MJCLA is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).  The IACP website, www.collaborativepractice.com , provides a wealth of information about collaborative law.  Individual members of MJCLA who also join the IACP will have access to their extensive materials and training opportunities.

If you have questions about MJCLA or becoming a collaborative professional, please contact one of our Board Members or any other member of the group, all of whom are listed in the Directory on this website.

MJCLA Board Members:

President:   Frances M. Merritt, Esq.
1st Vice-President:  Risa A. Kleiner, Esq.
2nd Vice-President:  Cheryl M. Spilka, Esq.
Treasurer:  Jeffrey D. Urbach, CPA
Secretary:  Mia Cahill, Esq.

Mid-Jersey Collaborative Law Alliance uses the ACMS Theme