See our simple guide to see how to approach the Divorce, When Lawyers should be considered and if you really need the assistance of a specialist lawyer.
You probably know of people who have been through a divorce, some will
have been able to amicably resolve the issues and others will have had a catastrophic
emotional and damaging experience. So do you need a specialist solicitor?
The answer depends on you and your spouse. In theory it is simple, you and your spouse sit down together and go through a list of the issues involved. These issues should include:- How your children are raised, who they will live with, what access each partner will have to the children, what happens to the family home and how your assets will be divided.
If you and your spouse are able to resolve the big questions of
children, money and property, them you should not need the services of a solicitor. More importantly, you will spare your children the ugly spectacle of
a parental battle, helping them come through the divorce as undamaged as
possible.
When to consider appointing a Divorce Solicitor
It makes a lot of sense to hire a solicitor if there is a real problem with
abuse - spousal, child, sexual or substance abuse. In these situations, it may
be impossible for the abused spouse to negotiate effectively: A lawyer can help
arrange the necessary protection for an abused spouse and the children, if
needed.
It can also make sense to hire a lawyer if your spouse is being
dishonest or vindictive and you just can't cope with it. In that case, you may
need someone to protect your interests.
Finally, it's prudent to
hire a solicitor if your spouse has an solicitor. This is especially true if you
have children or are facing complicated financial issues.
Choosing the right Solicitor
If you feel that you have no alternative other than to hire a solicitor then try to make sure you get one that will deal with the divorce in the manner you want it dealing with.
If you want a Solicitor's help but you still want to keep
your divorce civil, make sure you hire a Solicitor who will support that approach.
When you speak to a potential solicitor, ask them whether they feel favourable
about negotiating a settlement rather than fighting it out in court. Solicitors
operate under your instructions so If your interest is in an
amicable divorce, then you make sure to let the solicitor know that.
Unfortunately, some solicitors make it a practice to be as aggressive as
possible, and if your spouse finds a solicitor like that, you may have to fight
fire with fire. In these cases, the battle can go on and on, intensifying in
passion, until one or both spouses run out of money and limp to the settlement
table.
Worse, if there are children, the fight depletes not only your
pocketbook, but also your children's sense of security. Once the legal fight is
over, trying to establish a normal ongoing parenting relationship between both
parents and the children can be very difficult.
We can recommend solicitors to you who can act on your behalf. To set up an initial consultation to see if they are right for you contact us today on 0808 281 9488.
