A marriage breakdown is hard and painful. Mediation can help
The media do love a sensationalist divorce headline: whether it’s about quickie divorces, ongoing maintenance for wives or divorce day. They just want to sell papers or get clicks online. The fact that the divorce process takes the same time for everyone (about 4 to 6 months), regardless of whether you have ever been in Hello magazine, is neither here nor there. So often the headline focusses on a single fact which is actually not the most important part at…
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If you have only recently separated from your husband or wife, then you may be quite surprised to find out how the divorce laws work in this country. Currently unless you have been separated from your husband or wife for 2 years (this can include living separate lives within the same house) then the only fact on which you can base your divorce is either the other person’s adultery, or their unreasonable behaviour. The unreasonable behaviour is a subjective test.…
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If you have any experience of having solicitors resolve a separation with any degree of acrimony then you might be familiar with the following scenario: Things are ticking along and you are both trying your hardest to keep your head above water in every day life, to manage the process of resolving matters and to look after your children who you know are not doing great following the separation. It’s not easy but things are moving along, albeit not…
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When you first learn about mediation it can seem a scary option. Being in the same room as a partner you have separated from can be the last thing you feel like doing. Emotions can be very raw and you can wonder how you will contain all the feelings that are bubbling up within you. It can also be difficult where you have been separated for some time. You may have had very limited contact with each other – or…
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When couples embark upon mediation they are ultimately looking for a resolution. They want to be able to find a set of arrangements that will enable each of them to move on. It sounds like a fairly simple objective when you put it like that. However, even deciding on the first thing to talk about, and what the priorities are can feel like a mountain to climb. It is not unusual for couples trying to reach a resolution between…
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What does family mediation involve? Many people may first decide to seek out a mediator because their solicitor has suggested mediation. Or they may have read about mediation online, or been recommended to it by a friend. They may have a general idea about what mediation involves. For many people the first question is how do I get into mediation, or how do we start it. In this blog we outline the 5 steps to get mediation started. We hope…
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Divorce or separation can be a daunting time It can seem hugely daunting when you first take steps to look at what will happen following a separation or a divorce (or you may only be thinking of separating from your partner or spouse). There is now a wealth of information on the internet on this subject which varies in its level of accuracy and helpfulness. Much of it focusses on next steps and how to resolve financial issues rather…
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The Family Law Protocol requires all solicitors advising clients about family law to go through their complete list of options with them – even if they don’t offer some of the options as a firm. All clients seeking advice about a family law dispute should therefore have at least a basic understanding of mediation. But often that is all it is. You may have been told that mediation is an option, and you may have gathered that it involves talking…
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How do new family laws affect you? From today various changes in family law are coming in to force. There has already been a great deal of change in recent times in family law with the removal of legal aid for most family matters – although it is important to note that legal aid is still widely available for mediation to resolve family matters. The main three changes are: 1. From today the Statement of Arrangements for Children form…
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