Holding the Decree Absolute (or Final Order) in your hand brings a complex mix of emotions. There is often relief that the legal battle is over, mixed with the exhaustion of the process. It is natural to want to close the filing cabinet on this chapter of your life...
mediators
The Art of Negotiation – Turning Court Proceedings into Constructive Solutions
#3 in a series of commentaries from the family law Courtroom. No names obviously, but a focus on the mechanics of many cases, which illustrate the many “routes to goal” available to the experienced family lawyer, seeking the most efficient and economic solution for...
Family Law Courtroom Chronicles: The Reality of Financial Orders in Divorce
#1 in a series of commentaries from the family law Courtroom. No names obviously, but a focus on the mechanics of many cases, which makes this experienced family lawyer despair of the system. FACT: Judges base their financial orders after a long marriage on the...
Doing the Deal in Divorce
Getting the best result for clients in divorce finance cases is not about choosing negotiation OR court proceedings. It can be about using both to force clear and comprehensive disclosure of finances, on a timetable set by the court, at the same time as negotiating...
No-fault divorce looms but closure of online portal blindsides solicitors
I find this really worrying and suggests that the new system may not work reliably immediately, leaving separated couples in limbo while the old system closes down and the new one is fully operational.Monidipa Fouzder writes in The Law Society Gazette A long-awaited...
I ended my ‘perfect’ marriage after 14 years
There are many reasons for divorce, but you can consider Marriage Guidance first, or a renegotiation of your marriage arrangements through our Marriage Makeover service.The Sun’s Josie Griffiths wrote an interesting article… OUT OF LOVE I ended my ‘perfect’...
Second government cash boost for family mediation
The government has announced it is ploughing more cash into a voucher scheme to keep more family disputes away from court - a priority of the current lord chancellor. Today’s £1.2m cash injection comes five months after the Ministry of Justice allocated...
Nihilistic litigation
John Hyde, The Law Society Gazette’s Editor wrote an article recently on ‘Nihilistic litigation’: Divorce judge laments costs of mammoth case. What on earth were these poor people (or their lawyers) thinking? The costs of the case must be proportionate to the expected...
Getting the best deal
Everyone involved in a divorce wants the simplest – and cheapest – financial solution. Saving legal costs is usually a first consideration. But should it be? In a divorce, you will lose at least two things: - A big share of the joint assets and income, which gave you...