Family solicitor at London law firm RIAA Barker Gillette, Pippa Marshall, explains how the landscape of divorce is evolving to meet modern demands and synchronise with how people want to end relationships.
The first thing most clients tell us is that they don’t want to go to court. The good news is that they don’t have to. Now, more than ever, lawyers are coming up with innovative ways to assist their clients in reaching an amicable financial settlement, particularly since the introduction of ‘no-fault‘ divorce in April of this year.
Kitchen table arguments are no longer spilling into lobbies of court buildings, and it is no longer the norm for the court to decide divorce settlements. It is still possible, however, for both parties to have their fair slice of cake.
Clients want their lawyers to have a human touch and guide them through negotiations and processes amicably and combine expertise with empathy.
Divorcing on an amicable footing will inevitably help clients’ mental health and maintain a peaceful relationship with their ex which is particularly important when they need to co-parent children moving forward.
We can help you navigate the landscape of divorce
Our family lawyers at RIAA Barker Gillette recognise this and have adopted several methods to help clients reach an agreement. Clients usually prefer to settle out of court, so we try our best to negotiate a settlement first. Arbitration and early evaluations of a couple’s finances by a neutral private judge are rising. Many mediators now qualify as psychotherapists to help people reach financial settlements with the benefit of therapeutic understanding. Divorce Coaches can help clients navigate their relationship through the legal process, and solicitors are starting to use methods to advise both the husband and wife and negotiate a settlement jointly where there are no conflict-of-interest issues.
To learn more about divorce’s changing landscape, speak to family solicitor Pippa Marshall today.
Note: This article is not legal advice; it provides information of general interest about current legal issues.