April 01, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Mediation
The breakdown of a relationship is rarely due to one single event. Of course there are moments of high emotion or final straw incidents – the deal breakers that mark the beginning of the end – but in most cases there will be underlying issues, and things will have been gradually breaking down for much longer. A slow accumulation of little things, micro-aggressions, irritations and hairline fractures, until it only takes one more nudge to send the whole thing crashing down… The ‘facts’ put down to prove unreasonable behaviour often only show a tiny portion of the real situation, and infidelity is often a symptom of a much deeper problem within a relationship.
Far too often, it’s communication that ...
March 12, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Mediation
Mediation is an effective out-of-court alternative to court divorce that allows couples to come to a decision about the details of their separation in a cooperative way. Mediation has many benefits for separating couples, including generally being lower in cost and faster than going to court, and being more flexible and convenient since couples can choose who acts as their mediator as well as when they have their appointments. Mediation can be particularly helpful for couples with children as it focuses on a collaborative approach and paves the way for better communication as co-parents in the future. Mediation can also be used for the dissolution of a civil partnership as well as for cohabiting couples who wish to ...
January 03, 2017 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Family Mediation Week will take place from 23-27 January this year, raising awareness of the benefits of mediation as an alternative method of separation.
Family mediation is an out-of-court option that offers a collaborative and respectful method of settling differences and finding a mutually beneficial solution for separating couples. Cooperation is at the core of mediation, and family mediators are there to support couples in coming to an agreement about their financial and family-based issues while avoiding the costs, stress and antagonism of going to court. Mediation is also an option for cohabiting couples, and is especially suited to those with children, since child-based mediation has ...
July 28, 2016 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Divorcing when you have children means there are more than just the two of you to consider. Your children’s well-being needs to come first – no matter how angry or bitter you may be about the split, and no matter how hard it is to negotiate a resolution. It can be difficult for parents to put themselves in their children’s shoes during separation, and even the most well-intentioned parents can take the wrong approach. On one end of the spectrum, some parents try to protect their kids by pretending everything’s normal, when children usually prefer to know what’s going on, so long as it’s explained ...
May 19, 2016 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Child maintenance is the regular payment of financial support to a child or children’s primary caregiver (eg: the parent or guardian they live with for the majority of the time) by the non-residential caregiver. Some parents negotiate child maintenance through the family courts as part of a financial settlement, or use the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to claim statutory child maintenance when communication between parents is difficult. However, it’s also possible to arrange child maintenance privately between you and your ex, with the professional guidance of a family law solicitor.
Making private arrangements for child maintenance will require trust, cooperation and collaboration – which is why it ...
February 23, 2016 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
A recent survey by YouGov in support of Family Mediation Week has revealed a lack of support for couples seeking information on separation, especially when related to children’s issues and finances. According to the poll, up to 38% of respondents were unaware of out-of-court alternatives to separation, such as mediation, arbitration and collaborative family law.
The results of the survey showed that couples felt more positive about the process and outcome of their separation when they had greater access to information about their options. In general, 48% of respondents said that they felt positively about their separation, but this percentage increased and decreased across the country ...
February 17, 2016 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
When you have children, divorce or separation can be an overwhelming prospect. There are so many questions, so many ‘what ifs’, and so many factors to consider. Who will the children live with? Will you be able to stay in the family home? How often will your children see each parent?
Research has shown that children of separated parents find it easier to adjust to changes when they are able to continue to spend quality time with both parents in a consistent and relaxed manner. There are, of course, exceptions to this guideline – and if a child is fearful or anxious about visiting one ...
January 13, 2016 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog Divorcing couples often find themselves divorce blame when it comes to negotiating a settlement. From the outset, ‘fault’ is assigned when one party states grounds for divorce – be it adultery, abandonment, or unreasonable behaviour. It’s understandable that separating couples feel the need to lay blame on one another – divorce is a melting pot of emotions, and holding your ex responsible for the hurt you’re feeling is a natural reaction. .And for someone who has had to endure a cheating spouse or emotional abuse, dividing up their assets equally can seem horribly unfair, especially when their ex’s bad conduct is at the root of their divorce However, it is a common misconception that bad behaviour will influence ...
November 11, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
A recent US pilot study suggests that family mediation focused on the needs and feelings of children leads to a more cooperative outcome, reduced conflict, better communication, and twice the amount of parenting time with fathers.
The trial took place at the Indiana University School of Law Family and Children Mediation Clinic and involved a small, randomised, controlled group of separating parents who took part in ‘Child Informed Mediation’ (CIM). There were two approaches to mediation during the research: ‘Child Focused’ (CF) mediation, in which parents considered the effects of separation on their children throughout the process of negotiating an agreement; and ‘Child Inclusive’ (CI), in which ...
September 26, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
When unmarried, cohabiting couples separate, divorce is obviously not an option, but there are several out-of-court alternatives for dispute resolution, including mediation – a popular choice for couples who wish to settle their affairs with dignity and cooperation.
If you’ve been living with your partner as a cohabiting couple and have decided to separate, you may find the legalities of dividing up your assets more complicated than you expected. Despite recent changes to family law, cohabiting couples are still not awarded ...
