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 ...
April 11, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
An academic report from 2014 has demonstrated that couples who went to mediation ‘were generally more willing and able to reach an agreement’ than those who chose to follow a court-based route for separation. For couples with children, an out-of-court process like mediation can make a vast difference to future their relationship as co-parents, and can pave the way for a positive outlook after separation.
Discussing the issues and details of separation can be difficult, but it’s important for parents to be able to work through their problems so that cooperation is possible in the future. One of the main purposes of ...
December 06, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
A survey of 2,000 people revealed that less than 25% of couples going through relationship difficulties actively sought help from professionals, despite almost 40% believing that counselling would be beneficial. Those who attended counselling sessions did so for an average of four months, and 12% said that it helped with the problems in their marriage.
The statistics also demonstrated that women are more likely to seek help to avoid separation than men. 45% of female respondents said they had faith in the benefits of counselling compared with 28% of men. However, both men and women were more likely to confide in a friend rather than seek professional help, and ...
April 04, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Mediation is often marketed as being a quicker, easier and cheaper method of separation for couples who want to avoid going to court over their divorce. But does this alternative form of dispute resolution really offer an all-round simpler solution?
The first thing to realise about mediation is that it is not a form of counselling. The role of a mediator-solicitor is to bring together both parties to find the best outcome for everyone involved. Your mediator takes an independent position and is not able to act as a legal representative for either of you, or take sides. However, ...
March 09, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
New statistics from the Ministry of Justice reveal that the time it takes to resolve family law disputes can be significantly reduced with the use of couples’ mediation. A recent press release explained how parenting issues and divorce settlements are generally completed much faster when couples use the services of a solicitor who is trained in mediation as opposed to using traditional court processes.
“The average time for a mediated case is 110 days compared to 435 days for non-mediated cases,” the release claims. Family Justice Minister Simon Hughes commented on the statistics: “Mediation works and we are ...
November 05, 2013 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when you get divorced is deciding how to deal with any shared property. Who gets the house? Or do you sell it and split the assets? Things can become even more complicated if you have children – perhaps you’re eager to stay in your family home to retain a sense of normality through your separation, while your partner wants to push for a quick sale. The first port of call for any couple planning a divorce is to consult an experienced family law solicitor or divorce lawyer who will be able to help you ...