5 Things You Should Consider When Choosing a Divorce Lawyer

A good divorce solicitor is a godsend. They can make the division of property, child custody decisions and every aspect of ending a marriage much simpler. There a number of qualities in a good divorce solicitor which you can look out for. These factors are easy to spot and by considering them when you are looking for a solicitor you can make your divorce much easier to deal with.

Local – It’s quite likely you will need to be in regular contact with your solicitor, for this reason its worth going for a local solicitor if one is available. It will make it much easier for you to organise to meet them and make you a more flexible & desirable client for the family law firm

Listens – The most important thing to look for in a divorce law solicitor is how good they are at listening. You are going to need to share intimate details about your relationship with this person. It needs to be someone you can trust to listen to you. You need to feel comfortable talking to them. It’s really important to meet a divorce solicitor before committing to their services. A face to face meeting can tell you lots more about a person than a hundred phone conversations.

Experienced – Much like you wouldn’t get a plumber to fix you car you want a specialist in family law. A solicitor who works solely in divorce is going to be able to advise you much better than someone who practises in every area of law. When the outcome of the divorce could drastically affect your quality of life you really don’t want a jack of all trades.

Affordable – It is worth remembering there isn’t always a direct relationship between how much something costs and how good it is.It doesn’t matter how good a solicitor is if you can’t afford them. Ask early on how much their service are going to cost you. There’s no reason to feel uncomfortable about asking the question, you wouldn’t normally buy something with no idea of how much it costs.  Just because one solicitor is more expensive than another solicitor doesn’t mean they are any better qualified to deal with your divorce.

Contactable – It important to be able to get in contact with the solicitor dealing with your divorce easily. Some solicitors are known for their evasiveness. A good tip is to try and contact your potential solicitor several times on the phone before signing up with them. That way you’ll get a good idea of how difficult it will be to stay in contract during the duration of your divorce.

It’s worth shopping around for a divorce solicitor. It will make your divorce go much smoother and make your life easier.

New Year brings rise in Divorce Rates!

With the holidays past, now is the time for New Year’s resolutions. For some that resolution is divorce ! Divorce rates drop during the holidays, but rise again as the holiday cheer fades away in January.

A survey by the Local Government Association (LGA), which found one-fifth of local authorities reporting increased demand for relationship counselling, has led to predictions of a “bumper” divorce season.
Some Divorce Law Solicitors say the influx of calls just after the festive period can be three times the monthly average.

Traditionally most marriages break-up in January due to the stress of Christmas, both financially and because of the extended period of time that families spend together over the festive period. However this year has seen a divorce rate in July 40% higher than the rate in January, a 150% rise on the divorce rate in the summer of 2007.

Experts say that summer holidays are also to blame, as families are spending money they don’t have on going away together, when they really should be avoiding extended periods together in this difficult financial climate.

In addition to the holidays, the amount of alcohol consumed while on holiday has forced tempers to fray, leading to divorce.

Holidays are supposed to be a relaxing time spent with your family in the sun. With a struggling economy they’re just breeding grounds for contempt and malice, leading to divorce solicitors.

Is divorce going out of fashion?

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FIGURES released by the Office for National Statistics, there were 144,220 divorces in the UK in 2007, 2.6% fewer than the previous year. This actually represents a 20% drop from the highest level in 1993.

At this time, we are seeing a rise in the number of so-called “City divorces”. The credit crunch inevitably puts a strain on marriage and wives are deciding to divorce before the generous bonuses of recent years become a thing of the past. Many husbands in the City who come to see us have often felt unsupported at home, particularly during a time of considerable pressure and uncertainty in the workplace; the added financial worries of school fees, hefty mortgages, credit card debts, etc. exacerbate the situation. There is no magic formula for a successful marriage but a key component is to maintain good levels of communication throughout these stressful times.

There are of course fewer marriages than in the past and people are marrying later in life. Indeed, many couples choose not to marry at all. As a specialist Family Law Practice, we offer a variety of solutions to our clients’ relationship matters, such as Cohabitation Agreements, Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements, Declarations of Trust and we undertake Mediation.

If a relationship ends and a couple decides to separate, there are various methods by which agreements concerning the family finances and contact with any children can be reached; it does not automatically mean that matters will end up in Court. Recourse to the courts is the most costly solution in time, money, stress and the irreparable damage to family relationships. Negotiations can take place between solicitors without any involvement of the Court and we are able to draft a Court Order, which will be placed before a Judge reflecting the agreement reached and without the need for either party to attend in person.

Of course, there are instances where a firm hand is needed and Court proceedings are the only option. We are able to offer our own Advocacy Services to our clients, where appropriate, to save costs. Where it is necessary to instruct Counsel, we use the Leading Chambers in the country.

If your relationship has ended, the most important step is to seek advice early to enable you to assess your options. Instruct a solicitor in whom you have complete confidence and with whom you can confide, but also whose judgement you trust and who is technically able. All the Family Lawyers at Osbornes are members of Resolution. Lisa Pepper is an Associate at Osbornes. She is a member of Resolution which is an organisation of 4,700 lawyers and family justice professionals who believe in a constructive, non confrontational approach to family law matters. Lisa is a regular speaker at the London College of Law and will shortly qualify as a Collaborative Lawyer. She can be contacted on 020 7485 8811 or by email: lisapepper@osbornes.net.