ADVERTISING FEATURE DIVORCE SOLUTIONS
Taking control when relationships break down
UNDERSTANDING THE OPTIONS OPEN TO DIVORCING COUPLES IS CRUCIAL IF YOU WANT THE BEST OUTCOME FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, SAYS STONE KING’S JOHN BROWNRIGG
W
inston Churchill once famously said that to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war. A growing number of
divorcing couples are heeding this advice and working together to find practical solutions to the problems they face rather than fighting their battles in court. At Stone King we have seen a noticeable
increase in the number of couples seeking help from our specially trained family mediators and collaborative lawyers. This may be due partly to changes introduced by the government which sees family mediation as a far more cost-effective and positive way of dealing with family disputes. But there is also a growing awareness that
there are more constructive alternatives to the divorce courts. If you get the process of dealing with relationship breakdown right, you are more likely to get the outcome right and so understanding the options is crucial. Of course one option is to do nothing;
simply live apart without doing anything practical to address the problems you face – that’s one extreme. The other extreme is to let a judge make important decisions for you
about things like money, property and contact with children. But going to court can be really expensive
and the options open to a judge are much more limited than the potential solutions available to former partners themselves. Most people going through the trauma of
separation ask a solicitor to negotiate against the threat of litigation. But the sums argued over may not be that different from the combined fees of the lawyers!
“we champion conflicT resoluTion”
Those who leave it to their solicitor to do
the negotiating have less control over, and knowledge of, what is said and done. So the best solutions to relationship breakdown are those which you work out together for yourselves with the benefit of legal advice. Some divorcing couples meet with two
specialist lawyers joining them in round table discussions. An alternative process is collaborative law, which involves both
John Brownrigg
sides signing a participation agreement and pledging not to litigate through the courts. Stone King has four highly trained
collaborative lawyers with great experience of helping couples seek practical solutions while retaining control of the process. Financial planners or coaches are often invited to join the collaborative team to provide direction or support. The most inspired option is to go to
mediation. Our team of skilled and impartial mediators can help you both find your own solutions to the practical and legal issues you face – without lawyers in the room. The process is voluntary and confidential, and the decision-making rests entirely with you. Mediation can be quicker, cheaper and
less emotionally draining, and offers longer lasting solutions for you and your family. Stone King have long championed this form of conflict resolution, and we are the only legal practice in Bath to offer publicly funded mediation services. So if you are going through the painful
process of separation we can help you resolve matters in the interests of the family as a whole, with or without lawyers present. We can also represent you in court if this becomes necessary. BL
For more information about Stone King’s specialist family law services please contact John Brownrigg on 01225 324441.
www.stoneking.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life 121
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