Is it possible to stay amicable during the distressing process of divorce? You and your partner may have been fighting a lot and you may think inevitably that communication will only deteriorate further now you have decided to start divorce proceedings. Samantha Lee, family lawyer and head of Swain & Co Family Mediation Service, says,… Read More
A retiring Court of Appeal judge has strongly criticised government policy in respect of cutting legal aid, a policy which is likely to lead to more people representing themselves at court. Mr Justice Ward – a highly experienced judge who has spent the best part of two decades on the Court of Appeal – made… Read More
Legal aid is being cut from most divorce cases from next month. As of the 1st of April 2013, legal aid for divorce is to be slashed apart from those cases which involve domestic violence. Divorce statistics The Office for National Statistics shown that there is an average of 120,000 divorces every year and 42%… Read More
Facebook has added a new feature similar to those on premium dating sites for trial in the US. US users are able to send a message to a non-friend for $1. Some are now worried that Facebook’s new feature could spell disaster for other online dating sites, and even those aimed at people who are… Read More
Ministers have promised millions to help couples end their marriage through family mediation. Family mediation helps separating and divorcing couples to negotiate how they will divide their assets and look after any children in the relationship. The announcement from Lord McNally comes in response to ‘Divorce Day’ as a means to aid a quicker and… Read More
Christmas is a magical time for children. But when parents divorce, Christmas can become a battleground with children stuck in the crossfire. Over the Christmas period separated parents who are squabbling over who the children spend their time with are being asked to resolve their disputes themselves. Many courts are already fully booked over the… Read More
Swain & Co. solicitors are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Legal Services Commission contract to carry out legally aided mediation from 1 December 2012. This means that mediation will be free is you are eligible for legal aid. We are pleased to be able to offer another service through legal aid,… Read More
Holiday homes used to be a prized asset of families, and in divorce often resulted in wrangling over who was awarded it. However, the Euro crisis is fast turning former ‘dream’ assets into a ‘toxic’ legacy when couples divorce. In divorce, the question is now centring on which partner will take the property on; it… Read More
Often as divorce lawyers, we are used to parents and society’s concerns over children when their parents are divorcing. This is a key interest to keep at the forefront of parents mind when the emotional turmoil of divorce arises. In a recent post, a survey revealed that divorcing couples with children said they would put… Read More
According to a poll on public attitudes towards divorce, separation and family breakdowns, 13% of married people have seriously considered divorce from their partner, but had decided against it. There are around 24 million married people in the UK, based on recent estimates by the Office of National Statistics. The latest figures on divorce in… Read More
