It is no shock that separation charges proceed to spike after the festive season. Many individuals attribute the cost-of-living disaster and the monetary stress of making the ‘good Christmas’ to marital bust-ups.
The primary Monday of the 12 months when folks return to work can also be dubbed as ‘Divorce Day’, which fell on January 9 in 2023. Authorized specialists say that they count on extra divorce enquiries throughout this era in distinction to every other month.
Official figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS), present that divorce charges have risen in the previous couple of years, following the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, there have been 113,505 divorces granted in England and Wales, a 9.6 per cent enhance in contrast with 2020 when there have been 103,592 divorces.
This enhance continued into final 12 months – the Household Courtroom acknowledged that the second quarter of 2022 noticed a 22 per cent enhance in divorce purposes in comparison with the identical interval in 2021, whereas within the third quarter, there was an 8 per cent enhance. This rise could also be partially as a result of no-fault divorce invoice which was launched final April, permitting married {couples} to divorce with out attributing blame to the opposite occasion.
Nonetheless, some household attorneys imagine lots of pointless consideration is given to ‘Divorce Day’. They encourage {couples} to file for divorce on an knowledgeable foundation and plan successfully to succeed in the perfect end result once they separate.
Kate Denham, who’s a Companion and head of the household workforce for Thomas Mansfield Solicitors in Guildford, says: “There’s lots of hype given to January as ‘Divorce Month’ within the press. It is true that the brand new 12 months generally is a catalyst for folks looking for to divorce, however folks’s precedence must be on looking for recommendation first and planning separation and divorce rigorously.
“The most effective recommendation I may give {couples} is to at all times go to a household regulation specialist for preliminary recommendation earlier than they make any selections to allow them to perceive the choices accessible to them. Do not rush into issues and in that manner, you can transfer ahead in a manner that is based mostly on mutual understanding.”
Discovering the perfect decision
Because the introduction of the no-fault divorce regulation final 12 months, {couples} have been capable of finish their marriage with out the necessity for an extended separation. An announcement of irretrievable breakdown, made both by one occasion or each, is seen as “conclusive proof” for divorce.
It additionally implies that neither accomplice can file for divorce on the grounds of adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion. The act as an alternative launched a brand new minimal interval of 20 weeks between the beginning of divorce proceedings and the applying for a conditional order.
{Couples} are inspired to make use of this era as a time of reflection to assist them put together for future cooperation and to consider how they wish to divide their belongings. It’s not attainable to defend or contest a divorce, other than on very restricted grounds.
Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, specialists in household regulation, cowl a variety of providers. These embody mediation and collaboration in issues of divorce.
All of its solicitors are members of Decision, an organisation which promotes a conciliatory strategy to divorce. Decision has launched a brand new mannequin for coping with divorce which focuses on one solicitor delivering neutral recommendation to a husband and spouse, as an alternative of giving them separate illustration.
The strategy is one which Thomas Mansfield hopes to have the ability to ship for its shoppers later this 12 months. The agency additionally believes that the no-fault divorce makes separation a way more simplified process and helps to start out proceedings on a greater footing, lowering acrimony, and permitting {couples} to start out early discussions about monetary disclosure and placing the wants of any kids within the household first.
Specialists in household issues
In addition to having long-standing hyperlinks within the Guildford space, Kate Denham of Thomas Mansfield Solicitors has been a household lawyer for over 25 years. She has handled circumstances coping with a broad number of belongings, as much as £70m in worth.
Kate says: “In relation to my divorce shoppers, I am comfy with coping with events of all backgrounds, particularly as a result of I am a folks individual at my core. I’ve handled a variety of surprising circumstances, together with a same-sex case the place a toddler had been conceived by a sperm donor, and circumstances the place {couples} have had extra disagreements about who takes custody of pets over anything.
“I get pleasure from working with shoppers and giving them choices as they undergo the method, as an alternative of dictating what I believe ought to occur with their case. We’ve got a powerful workforce of mediators right here at our agency, and each single one among our attorneys will attempt to unravel divorce issues by mutual settlement if attainable.”
Thomas Mansfield Solicitors is Lexcel accredited by The Regulation Society of England and Wales, a scheme which is designed to recognise regulation corporations which are dedicated to authorized excellence. The agency can also be ranked by The Authorized 500 for household regulation in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, which is a number one authorized listing that analyses and ranks regulation corporations throughout the UK on the standard of their experience, shopper service and standing available in the market.
The agency’s household workforce of 15 members works throughout the South East, together with in London and Tunbridge Wells. The latest Thomas Mansfield Solicitors workplace will open in Tunsgate Arch in Guildford later this month.
For extra details about Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, go to tmfamilylaw.co.uk or contact the workforce on 01483 944899.