• Finding the right lawyer

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    When you have a family related legal issue, choosing the right lawyer can be a daunting task. Many people will have limited or no experience of working with lawyers. Different types of law require different skill sets and so the qualities you might look for in a lawyer to purchase your home or sue a multi-national company are not necessarily the qualities you will be looking for when separating from your partner. One important consideration may be cost, although comparing lawyers simply based on price is unlikely to tell the whole story. You will also want to consider how experienced …

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  • Is an “out of court service” more appropriate for my family than court?

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    The number of court cases relating to children has increased significantly since the beginning of 2016, and there is no sign of this trend slowing down.  Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior family judge in England and Wales, is conducting a review of the system and has said the family courts are having to “run up a down escalator” due to the increased burden. The president of the family division has said that some parents needs to be persuaded not to bring their cases to court, in order to reduce the pressure and begin to stop the delays that are …

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  • Litigants in Person

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    On 1st April 2013 the government withdrew legal aid for most family cases. The purported rationale behind this decision was to encourage people to use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) such as mediation. This actual reason was to save money.   The problem is that where there are many cases in which ADR is appropriate, there are many cases in which it is not. It is also worth noting that even if you, as a client decide to attend mediation you will still need legal advice to understand your position and your options so that you can negotiate properly. You will …

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  • Keeping your divorce out of court

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    When a relationship breaks down some people are concerned that involvement from lawyers might escalate a dispute and lead them to court. In many cases this is not true as there are a variety of options available in order to resolve matters as an alternative to court. There has been a great deal in the media about mediation and the government would like to encourage people going through a divorce to use that process in order to resolve any issues. Whilst mediation can be effective in many instances, it is not suitable for everybody and there may be many reasons …

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