It’s good to talk Mid Kent Living Advertisement feature


ACCORDING to recent analysis published by the National Office of Statistics, nearly one in two children will have experienced a family breakdown by the time they are 16.


It’s a disturbing fact for


society as a whole, but of concern to many family lawyers is the way in which relationship disputes are resolved, particularly in relation to the children. The court process is, by definition, adversarial, and the Government has recently announced plans to discourage court applications by making mediation compulsory before the court gets involved.


There is, however, an


alternative - collaborative law. Still relatively new to family law, it encourages


parents to try to resolve matters without involving the courts, with all discussions taking place face-to-face, around a table.


The collaborative process


is open and transparent; it does away with letters flying back and forth between solicitors. Although those involved have legal advice, specifically a solicitor each who attends all the four- way meetings with their partner, the solicitors work together to try to help the parties to reach agreement with regard to the arrangements for the children, and in relation to financial matters.


The end result is that


those involved can walk away with an agreement that has not been imposed on them, other than by


circumstance, and are far more likely to be able to maintain a civil relationship for the sake of their children. At the very least they may feel more comfortable about attending parents’ evenings, graduations and weddings together in the years ahead.


ASB Law offers a


collaborative approach to resolving family matters, and if you would like to find out more about this approach or would like to discuss family matters in general, then please contact Helen Waite on 01622 656506.


We are also offering a


number of free half-hour appointments. Please call if this is of interest.


Helen Waite Associate asb law


Tel: 01622 656506


helen.waite@asb-law.com www.asb-law.com


Mid Kent Living 31


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