Family Relationships Posts

A recent piece in the Guardian highlighted that the number of divorce and separation cases being fought in the courts that involve children has risen, with £151m of legal aid money being spent on litigation, according to figures. Research by solicitors Mishcon de Reya shows that more than half of parents going through divorce and separation went to court to challenge issues relating to their children. Figures from the Legal Services Commission, which manages the government's legal aid budg....

Some interesting news has emerged within the last week in the Law Society Gazette and the Times. Divorcing and separating couples would be compelled to consider mediation before going to court, under plans being drawn up by ministers. At present only couples funded by legal aid must consider mediation as a method of sorting out arrangements over children and finances. An interesting objectio from Baroness Deech, the Gresham Professor of Law who this week launches a series of lectures calli....

A rather introductory piece on divorce mediation within the United States from the Vernon Hills Review. In traditional divorce litigation, the only one making money is the lawyer. Attorney fees can total up to $50,000. In this instance, mediation costs between US$1,500 and $3,000. The mediation firm, Robert Brass & Associates' research shows that mediating couples are committed to working together for the benefit of their children, more likely to be satisfied with the process and resu....

As a mediator I can assist parties in seeking to resolve their marriage break-ups.   According to the Telegraph with the average marriage split now costing couples £28,000, it can also be financially crippling. If current trends continue, one in two marriages in England and Wales will not last 10 years. Research from Norwich Union found that 62 per cent of couples have shared finances that need to be sorted out on divorcing, and almost half of divorcees are forced to dip in....