28th November 2022 marked the start of Resolution’s Good Divorce Week, which will run until 2nd December 2022. Good Divorce Week takes place annually and focuses on the strain that the Family Courts in England and Wales are currently facing, and the steps that individuals can take to ease the pressure on the Court when attempting to resolve their situation after separation.
Family Courts are, currently, incredibly overstretched. This is leading to substantial backlogs and increased wait times in respect of listing Court hearings and administrative tasks. This means that families are frequently left waiting long periods of time to sort out their financial and child arrangements. Resolution is attempting to ignite national conversations and provide guidance on the alternatives to applications to Court, where appropriate.
Mediation is one form of out of Court resolution. Mediation is a process whereby couples work together with the guidance of a trained mediator in an attempt to reach an outcome in respect of their finances, or arrangements for their children. If an outcome can be reached in mediation, the mediator will draw up a document which records the outcome, that can then be drawn up into a legally binding document. Mediation is often a less expensive process than negotiations through solicitors or Court proceedings. Mediation can also aid individuals with better communication with each other and often lead to an agreed solution with as little animosity as possible.
Regrettably, it is not always the case that couples are amicable after separation, which means that Mediation in some situations either breaks down or is not appropriate. If you would like to discuss your situation to understand your options, please contact us on 01296 747 151 or 01494 870 075.
