Process Choices

You have a number of options open to you when you are considering how to resolve your finances or arrangements for your children.

Negotiation without Solicitors

Whilst it is unwise to finalise an agreement without taking legal advice, there are many routes to seeking advice and many do not require an ongoing 'retainer' or commitment to paying for an unspecified number of hours worked at £300 per hour.

If you are comfortable taking charge of your own negotiations, it is certainly possible to put together a summary of your finances and of what you have agreed for a solicitor to advise on.

Mediation

Family mediation is where an independent, trained professional helps you and your ex to work out agreements for your children or your finances. They can assist you to create a parenting plan or help you to figure out which financial documents to base your decisions on. They will also be able to recommend a lawyer who will be able to record your agreements into a legal document. You retain control of the decisions made and keep costs to a minimum in mediation.

Using a Divorce Solicitor

Using a solicitor can be expensive, but a solicitor can manage all stages of the divorce, the finances and any children matters. It is generally advisable to seek legal advice at some point during the process. It can often be helpful to take a mediation outcome statement to your solicitor for legal advice.

Collaboratively Trained Solicitors

Collaborative practice is where two parties are both represented by collaboratively trained solicitors who sign an agreement, along with the parties, to work collaboratively to come up with a joint solution to family finances. This removes the adversarial nature of working with solicitors as both solicitors are working together collaboratively, rather than adversarially, to find the best solution for the family as a whole. This can be a very useful process when you have not been able to resolve all issues in mediation, for example.

Early Neutral Evaluation

If you are struggling to come to an agreement and would both benefit from an indication of how the court would be likely to view your circumstances, you can instruct a senior lawyer who is trained to give early neutral evaluations to carry this out for you. This is a non-binding procedure which often assists people to come to a settlement shortly afterwards.

Arbitration

Arbitration is distinct from mediation, in that it involves appointing an arbitrator to make a decision on any financial and property issues arising from the breakdown of your relationship (ie. rather than reaching a mutual agreement).

Going to Court

Going to court can be costly and should be the option of last resort for most people. However, if your former partner is not willing to make full and frank disclosure, is not engaging with you or if you are unable to reach agreement, it may be necessary to apply to the court for a financial order. It is worth bearing in mind that approximately 5% of applications for a financial remedy at court culminate in a final hearing; most cases settle before a final hearing.

You will need to at least have attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before taking any financial or child arrangements dispute to court. Your mediator will discuss options with you and will sign a ‘court form’ if required.