(Family Division; Coleridge J; 30 July 2008)

The parties to family proceedings had negotiated a comprehensive settlement of all the issues arising on their separation, using the collaborative law process.

The judge permitted the parties' application for approval of their draft consent order to be dealt with in the 'urgent without notice' applications list, in order to shortcut the normal rather lengthier process of lodging consent orders through the Principal Registry and waiting for them to be approved and sent back. The President had approved this shortcut process for use by those who achieved collaborative law agreements, in order to encourage people to resolve their difficulties in this civilised and sensible way.