Divorce Can Be Kind

One thing we don’t talk about enough in divorce law is the impact the breakdown of a marriage has on a person’s mental health. Divorce is well recognised as one of life's most stressful events. However, committing to a ‘kind’ divorce can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression because it reduces confrontation and puts you in control of the process[1].

Contrary to popular belief, very few divorce cases reach Court. Most financial agreements are concluded via negotiation or mediation. This allows couples to settle their divorce and move on to a positive future.

For those whose marital assets comprise of property (both in the UK and abroad), pensions, businesses, and other assets, instructing a specialist family law Solicitor is imperative. They can help you make decisions that not only protect your best interests but control your legal costs and encourage respectful communication.

The following pointers can help you achieve an amicable divorce:

Take advantage of mediation

Mediation provides a forum in which you and your spouse can reach agreement on contentious issues between you, with the help of a trained mediator who will facilitate proceedings. Mediation can be very successful in high-net-worth divorce cases; the amount of money at stake is immaterial; what matters is whether or not each party is motivated enough to settle before the matter reaches Court.

Don’t let emotions dictate your decisions

Financial decisions that are principally based on emotions are likely to come back to haunt you, in the form of litigation, in years to come. This is where your family lawyer and financial advisers are worth every penny you invest. They can look at your situation objectively and ensure the decisions you make will protect the interests of you and your children, now and in the future.

Before making any big decisions surrounding the financial aspects of your divorce, allow yourself time to cool-off. Making prudent decisions at the outset could save you thousands of pounds later on if you have a change if heart about what you have agreed to.

Consider a family solicitor who is a member of Resolution

Resolution is an organisation of 6,500 family lawyers and other professionals in England and Wales, who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters.

All Resolution members adhere to a Code of Practice, which sets out the principles of a non-confrontational approach to family law matters. The principles of the code are widely recognised and have been adopted by the Law Society as recommended good practise for all family lawyers.

The Code requires lawyers to deal with each other considerately and to encourage their clients to put their differences aside and reach fair agreements.

By engaging a Resolution solicitor, you are taking an active step in seeking a kinder, non-confrontational divorce which is likely to not only keep your legal costs down but ensure the best long-term solution for you and your family.

Concluding comments

Despite what you see in the media and on television there is no reason why a divorce needs to drag on for years or incur crushing legal bills for both parties. By instructing an experienced, empathetic family solicitor, who can quickly cut to the heart of the issues that need resolving and encourage you to work out a solution together, you can end a bad marriage with a good divorce.

If you would like help with any aspect of separation or divorce, please contact us on 01202 802 807 to make an initial appointment with one of our family law Solicitors.

[1] This article relates to divorce matters which do not include factors such as domestic abuse, non-disclosure of assets etc. In these types of cases, methods such as mediation may not be appropriate. Your Solicitor will advise you on alternative steps to ensure you and your children’s best interests are protected.