Monday (November 10) marked the start of Good Divorce Week. This is an initiative by Resolution, an organisation of family justice professionals committed to helping people find a better way to separate by minimising conflict, improving communication and putting the children’s wellbeing first.
At FJG, our family law team is proud to be part of Resolution.
Supporting clients through difficult times
As divorce professionals, we assist spouses at one of the most difficult times of their lives, when their emotions and grief may cloud their judgement, negatively impact on their communication, their rational decision making and their ability to prioritise what is important.
Solicitors play a vital role in guiding clients through this process with empathy, clarity and a commitment to fairness.
Striving to apply the Resolution Code of Practice in our day-to-day work helps us to support our clients. We help clients through the divorce process and to achieve a fair outcome with less conflict, using better communication that is solution focused and non-confrontational.
We also advise clients in a way that helps them have a clear understanding of their options, and of the long-term financial and emotional consequences of their decisions, whilst encouraging them to put the best interests of any children first throughout.
Practical tips for separation and divorce
To mark Good Divorce Week, our family lawyers have compiled a list of practical tips for those going through separation or divorce. These insights are designed to help individuals approach the process with greater confidence, clarity, and compassion.
- Seek early legal advice
Especially from solicitors who are committed to the Resolution Code of Practice. This will help manage your expectations and clarify your legal rights and responsibilities. This will in turn hopefully assist you in reaching an agreement with your spouse more quickly, cost efficiently and with less conflict. It also sets the tone for a more constructive and respectful process.
- Stay organised
This will help you make the most of your meetings with your solicitor and court hearings. You can do this by keeping a diary, a timeline and key dates, writing any questions down, making notes during your appointments, and keeping all documents together. This not only saves time but can also reduce stress.
- Prepare yourself
Identify all the financial assets you have, obtain valuations of all your assets, including property, savings, investments, and Cash Equivalent Valuations of your pensions, and have a clear idea of your needs and what you’re seeking to achieve.
- Make your solicitor’s job as easy as possible
Send all documents and questions in an easily accessible format and in an organised fashion. Be proactive in responding to requests. The more clearly and efficiently you communicate with your solicitor, the more cost-effective the process is likely to be.
- Always exchange financial disclosure
Even if you think you know each other’s financial circumstances. This ensures transparency, builds trust, and enables you to get more realistic legal advice that is tailored to your specific circumstances. Full and frank financial disclosure is essential for you to be able to make an informed decision as to what is fair. Furthermore, without full and frank financial disclosure, any agreement reached may be vulnerable to challenge later on.
- Carefully consider and research your needs
Whatever your age, think about the short and long-term future such as housing needs, income needs now, and income needs in retirement. Never be tempted to ignore your pension and your spouse’s pension. Pensions, in particular, are often overlooked but can be one of the most valuable assets in a marriage. Make sure they are properly considered and valued.
- Reach out for support
Separation is an incredibly challenging time, and it is crucial to have a solid support system in place; someone to talk to and confide in when times get tough, whether it’s friends, family, a therapist or a support group. Don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it. Emotional resilience is just as important as legal preparation.
- Consider other expertise early on
Other professionals might be relevant to your financial circumstances in divorce beyond the legal sphere – for example, pension experts, financial advisors, business experts, estate agents, counsellors and divorce coaches. Early input from these professionals can help you make an informed decision as to what is fair in the circumstances, prevent costly mistakes and provide peace of mind.
Here to help
At FJG, our family law team is committed to providing expert, compassionate advice during one of life’s most challenging transitions. If you’re going through separation or divorce, we are more than happy to help you through that process; start on the right foot by seeking legal advice from our Family Law team.
Lisa O’Boyle is an Associate in our Family Law Team, specialising in family matters including children, divorce, financial matters arising upon divorce and domestic abuse.
For further advice on any aspect of family law, please contact one of our team in our Colchester, Clacton or Chelmsford offices on 01206 835320, or via our online enquiry form.