One of the golden rules of being a solicitor is to avoid conflict. That is, representing one client when there has already been contact with the other side. Conflict needs to be established very early on in any legal proceedings, as a lawyer can only legally and ethically represent a client if there are no
Month: December 2014
What is a MIAM?
If you are starting out on your divorce process then you may be required to attend a MIAM. MIAM stands for mediation information and assessment meeting and is designed to encourage more couples down the route of mediation, rather than going through the courts. A MIAM will take approximately 45 minutes and both parties will
Is a DIY divorce ever a good idea?
A DIY divorce involves a couple splitting with no legal representation and not having any of the arrangements decided by a judge. For couples on a minimum budget this may seem like a good idea, but can it ever work? In theory, a DIY divorce is a simple process, couples can go to court, download
Out of court financial settlements
Although the media is full of horror stories about long and costly divorces going through court in order to come to a financial settlement, this is by no means the norm. Most financial agreements are settled out of court in divorce cases, saving both parties a lot of stress and a lot of money. When
New Domestic Abuse Law
The home secretary has announced a new offence for “coercive and controlling” behaviour within relationships in an attempt to tackle domestic abuse. Up until very recently domestic abuse has largely been swept under the carpet by governments and police forces, but this summer a review was carried out by the government on whether or not
Less Parents Applying For Child Maintenance Help
It is less than six months since charges were introduced for the new Child Maintenance Service and figures show that there has been a significant drop in parents applying or assistance. It is not yet known why there has been a drop, but charities are concerned that single parents are being put off seeking help
Cohabiting after a divorce
As well as all the emotional implications of new relationships after the end of a marriage, unfortunately many people have to take financial considerations into account also. If you are receiving maintenance payments from your ex-spouse, these could end when you decide to take the big step of moving in with a new partner, making
