Family

A good divorce?

Is there such a thing as a good divorce?

When a relationship breaks down it is inevitably stressful; especially when complex financial situations are involved. When the legal elements run smoothly, it can help take a lot of the stress and emotion out of the situation.

Our Family law team know that during these challenging times you need empathetic support. In this video series Managing Associate Tanya Dhillon sits down and talks to Transformation Coach Ceril Campbell about how the impact on mental and physical wellbeing cannot be underestimated, and the importance emotionally of supporting those going through divorce.

Your top divorce FAQs

What are the most contentious elements of a divorce? How can the negative impact of divorce on children be reduced? How long does a divorce take? Ceril asks Tanya the most frequently asked questions.

What should people look for when choosing a divorce lawyer?

When getting a divorce, you want someone who can support both the parties in working together, ensure the legal advisors work well together, and that the legal elements run smoothly. Tanya talks about how she engages with her clients by listening from the start and providing that emotional support throughout. The most rewarding part? Seeing the clients at the end of the process when they’re ready for that next chapter.

Using a Transformation Coach post-divorce

The impact of divorce on mental and physical wellbeing cannot be underestimated and as well as sorting the legal side, it’s important to think holistically. Ceril Campbell is a Transformation Coach who helps clients throughout and post-divorce evaluate who they want to be in their future life and help them on that journey. She helps clients improve their confidence, provides coping strategies and solutions, and is there to listen without judgement.

Divorce FAQs: answered

Family lawyer Tanya Dhillon answers the top divorce FAQs.

Sadly, I’m not sure there is something as a good divorce. But people can make it as good as it can be. That involves all the parties trying to work well together, including the legal advisors. By making sure that the legal side of things runs as smoothly as possible takes a lot of the stress out of the whole process. And ensuring that the clients are emotionally supported is important.

There are a range of different reasons people get divorced; people simply falling out of love; non-compatibility from the start is another common reason; and people growing apart for a number of reasons. And then sadly there are reasons such as  somebody having had an affair (Infidelity), substance abuse and addiction, or there has been emotional or physical abuse.

Sadly I would say it’s money and the division of assets. Trying to resolve the finances can bring out huge emotions and panic amongst couples trying to establish  whether they are financially able to move forward. This includes elements such as calculating child and/or spousal support. Determining who will have care of the children, or if both parents the division of that care, can also be highly contentious. These elements can have negative knock-on effects and create issues surrounding the children  as couples tend to lose sight of what their priority is.

This requires work from both parents. Putting their own personal views aside and promoting the other as a parent in their own right, not talking negatively about each other, and encouraging the child/children to spend regular and quality time with the other parent, unless of course there are valid reasons why contact should not take place. It’s important to ensure the child/children are listened to and cared for throughout the process. Having open and honest communications using age-appropriate language where they are encouraged to ask questions. The child/children should be proactively reassured that the divorce is not their fault, and that both parents will continue to love and support them. Establishing a cooperative co-parenting framework with consistent routines and rules across households will provide stability and a sense of security for the children.

At Foot Anstey we have a huge variety of clients, both men and women from heterosexual to same sex couples. People are of varying ages. There is a trend at the moment of a lot of couples in their thirties to fifties divorcing, but there are also older couples who are termed as silver and grey divorces.

No-fault divorce was introduced in April 2022 and allows couples to obtain a divorce on a no fault basis. The reasons for the separation are redundant. No fault divorce takes 6 months from application to final order.

In our experience, the shortest time frame for an uncontested divorce (i.e. the finances being settled without the need to go to court) is around 6 months. A contested divorce, which would mean going to court in relation to the finances, can generally take  between 1 and 2 years to complete.

It’s rare a couple are able to remain friends after a divorce. Many can continue to co-parent if there are children involved. It’s a highly emotional process, especially if court proceedings are needed, which can be quite bruising. At Foot Anstey we focus on taking the stress out of the legal side and try to find a way of resolving matters outside of the court process so things can be left as amicable as possible.

A third party can also be helpful during a divorce, whether that’s a family member or a neutral friend. It can provide balance and help support the clients emotionally so the legal team can focus on the legal aspects of the work.

How we can help

Our Family law team are experts in giving you clear and bespoke advice. We know that in challenging times you need empathetic support and that’s why we work hard to build a personal chemistry. We make ourselves available for you, so that we can truly understand what you’re going through.

A large proportion of divorces also include other elements of law such as company ownership, pensions, or complex property holdings. We are able to pull on specialists from around the firm to work in conjunction with our divorce law specialists. That means we can support you in every aspect of your matter, quickly and efficiently.

Our team includes lawyers qualified in mediation and collaborative law, and we’ll always look to keep the divorce out of court where possible. If and when court becomes the best route, then our experienced team are ready to fight your corner.

To get in touch, please use the contact form below.

About Ceril Campbell

Ceril Campbell is a Transformation Confidence Coach and author who works with clients who may be facing pivotal, challenging life-changing moments and require help, taking little steps, to adjusting to their new circumstances and transformation. To find out more please visit her website here.

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