Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Family Law Specialists Advise Marriage Breakdown Need Not lead to the Courts!

It can be a difficult time when a relationship breaks down, particularly when children are involved. For many it ends up with the bitterness and unresolved anger that so often accompanies the divorce process.

A new approach called Collaborative Law is been advocated by two solicitors at Mayo Wynne Baxter’s Tunbridge Wells office, who have recently qualified in this field.

Robert Williams, who lives in Eastbourne, and Sarah Jelly from Lewes, are two of a relatively few collaboratively trained lawyers in the area.

This unique approach has been established over recent years by family solicitors to manage the divorce process in a dignified manner. The parties enter an agreement not to go to court.

The process involves a meeting with both parties and their lawyers, in an attempt to reach a fair settlement. Although both parties retain control of the process, the lawyers are on hand to offer not only technical legal expertise, but also, guidance. The collaboratively trained lawyer is a skilled and compassionate professional who is not afraid to call in additional help - such as counsellors or mediators – if the situation demands it.

Benefits of using the collaborative process include controlling the pace of the process, rather than having to work to a court imposed timetable, the parties focus on resolving issues, and it is normally less expensive and less acrimonious than if the courts had been involved. Moreover, the parties can emerge from the process ready to get on with their lives and where children are involved they can see their parent’s having resolved their differences constructively together.

Robert Williams, a partner and Head of the Mayo Wynne Baxter Family Law Department, said: “When a relationship breaks down, it is often at great financial and emotional cost, and issues need to be treated particularly sensitively; especially, those where children are involved. The benefit of using a Collaborative Lawyer is that they combine technical expertise with a compassionate approach to try to reduce the cost and stress for everyone involved to reach a dignified and long term solution”.

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Mayo Wynne Baxter is the new name for Mayo & Perkins and Wynne Baxter, which merged in April 2007. The firm employs nearly 250 people in seven branches throughout the South East, and caters for business and private clients.

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