Legal news

Troubled couples to face mediation before divorce

Jonathan Winston Jonathan Winston
1 min read
This blog is more than 15 years old

The government is to force couples to consider mediation before going through the courts in divorce settlements under new guidelines being drawn up.

The new agreement, between judges and the Ministry of Justice, means that from April 6 all separating couples will have to at least show that they have been in contact with an accredited mediator and have considered how mediation might work for them. If, having considered mediation, they reject the option, then they will still have the option of taking the matter to court.

The new rules bring all divorce cases into line with the situation where couples have been granted legal aid and those proposing the changes hope it will save money. Recent data from legal aid cases showed the cost of cases going to court averaged £2,823 compared to just £535 which was the cost per client of mediation. Some cases will still be allowed to go straight through to court, such as in cases where there are allegations of domestic violence or child protection matters

Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said of mediation: “It is a quicker, cheaper and more amicable alternative, particularly where children are concerned.” He said it already helps thousands of legally-aided couples and he wants to see the benefits being extended to those who are funding their own court actions.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/couples-to-be-forced-to-consider-mediation-2223107.html

Client feedback

Sidraa and Paulo were extremely good dealing with our house sale and purchase. We were kept updated at each stage of the process and found it easy to contact them when we wanted a to have a chat. Thank you for making everything run smoothly.
Brian
As executors of my Mum’s estate we needed to apply for Probate. We met with Monika Volsing to discuss Probate and she talked us through the process and was very friendly and helpful. Any questions we had were always answered promptly. The whole process was very quick and we cannot fault anything.
Tracy
I have found Winston’s excellent in dealing with our conveyance. This firm totally deserve 5 stars and industry awards received. They are professional, friendly and respond to all docs in an extremely straightforward way. Their pricing is also extremely reasonable. I would have no hesitation in recommending this firm and would use them again should the need arise. I would like to give a special mention to The legal representative Michelle Ayres, who dealt with the sale of mum’s house in an extremely efficient and safe manner.
Melanie
have used Winston Solicitors many times when buying and selling houses wnd would use them again if the need arose.
Tony
Extremely responsive and helpful. Always knew what stage of the process I was at
Zoe
Winston Solicitors helped me with the purchase of my first ever property. I worked directly with Leasa Foster and Julie Smith. From start to finish they were very efficient and offered detailed information for each step of the way. As a first-time buyer, I wasn’t familiar with the process or what to expect, so having everything explained clearly and receiving detailed guidance at every stage was very helpful. Whenever I had a question or needed to discuss something, there was always someone available to assist, even when Leasa was not there. I always felt well supported and guided throughout the process, which made everything feel straightforward and ensured the purchase went as smoothly as possible. I’m very happy that I chose Winston Solicitors and would highly recommend them.
Anonymous
Great service the team at Winston’s solicitors are amazing at what they do! Thank again guys
Anonymous
Winston Solicitors represented me excellently and we're in frequent contact me throughout the process. The staff are very helpful and communicate exceptionally well. I am very thankful for there assistance during a very stressful period of my life.
Nathan
Contact us