Do you want a ‘friendly’ divorce? How a collaborative lawyer can help
The singer Adele may be recently divorced but she remains on good terms with her former husband and father of their eight-year-old son.
"Nothing bad happened," she confessed recently in a magazine interview about their marriage. "It just wasn't right for me anymore."
She and her ex, charity boss Simon Konecki, still live on the same street in Los Angeles and she says she'd trust him with her life.
Adele's experience is clearly not that common, particularly when it comes to celebrity break ups - Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's very public and ugly divorce, for instance, has been dragging on for five years now with their six children caught in the middle.
However, it is possible to handle divorce constructively and positively with a clear focus on the welfare of any children - and this is where what's known as collaborative law comes in.
What is collaborative divorce?
It's a process that allows couples to negotiate all the terms of their divorce without the need for mudslinging or slugging it out in court.
Guided by a specialist collaborative lawyer, like those at Wards Solicitors, it offers a way for divorcing or separating couples to work together as a team, face to face, with trained professionals.
As part of a collaborative divorce, access to other specialist services can be arranged as needed including counselling, pension advice and financial planning.
How does it avoid going to court?
Both parties and their lawyers sign a contract called a Participation Agreement. This is a commitment to resolve issues without going to court. It prevents lawyers involved in the collaborative process from doing so if discussions break down.
This means that absolutely everyone is totally committed to finding the best solutions by agreement rather than by going to court.
Click here for details of how the collaborative process works.
Will the new 'no fault' divorce law help?
Yes, as it means couples will no longer have to blame each other when divorcing, a common reason for acrimony, hostility and conflict with any children often caught in the emotional crossfire.
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill comes into force on 6 April next year and means both parties can simply acknowledge their relationship has irretrievably broken down.
Click here for what we've written about 'no fault' divorce recently.
Get in touch
Not all divorce lawyers are collaborative lawyers. Here at Wards Solicitors, we have lawyers who specialise in collaborative law.
Contact any member of Wards Solicitors' Family Law and Divorce team for help and information about family law or divorce-related issues or click here to book an initial meeting.