As part of the development of our services we are introducing a fixed fee divorce that is managed from beginning to end by a solicitor.

This is a complete service available if you have been married for at least a year and if you and your ex-partner have agreed not only that there should be a divorce but the grounds upon which the divorce will be obtained (see Divorce section).

Offering this no frills service enables us to provide the experience of a family solicitor at a very competitive cost.

Not only will an experienced family solicitor manage the process for you from start to finish but we will also:
•    Conduct all communication either by letter or telephone with the Court on your behalf.
•    We will keep you informed at every stage.
•    From the information you provide us we will be able to draft all the necessary forms and documents and submit them to the Court.

Read more here

Because many issues are resolved during mediation, couples often find that they save a great deal in legal costs by opting for mediation first and the limiting emotional impact on children is a key benefit through this process-thus avoiding the possibility of a ‘ winner takes all scenario’ resulting from a judge’s ruling!

If mediation suits your situation The Family Law Practice's mediation service may work for you.

We are often asked what are the risks if I deicde that mediation is not for me?
 
Apart from missing out on the possibility of a quicker and cheaper settlement one risk of refusing unreasonably to mediate is having to pay costs later in the case.
 
In the case of Halsey v Milton Keynes General NHS Trust [2004] EWCA Civ 576 the Court of Appeal identified these factors as being important but not exhaustive considerations:-
•    the nature of the dispute;
•    the merits of the case;
•    the extent to which other settlement methods had been attempted;
•    whether the costs of the ADR would be disproportionately high;
•    whether any delay in setting up and attending the ADR would have been prejudicial; and
•    whether the ADR had a reasonable prospect of success.
 
The costs regime in family proceedings is governed by FPR 28. FPR 28.1 provides that: "The court may at any time make such order as to costs as it thinks just."
 
The family court therefore has a wide discretion to order one party to pay the other's costs particularly if the court feels that time and cost have been spent in proceedings that could have been avoided had there been a more positive approach to the possibility of mediation in the first place.