The beginning of a New Year can be the turning point in many relationships. Having spent time with family and friends over the Christmas period it can put pressure on a marriage that is already fragile.
Sadly, the New Year is also the time that family lawyers are at their busiest by reason of couples putting matters off so as not to spoil Christmas for the children or their parents.
For many, this will be their first divorce and so it can be a very confusing time because you don’t know what to do for the best, or even where to start.
However, before you start taking matters further, please consider:
- What do you want for your future?
- Are you ready to take control of your life?
- Evaluate your biggest fears – are they warranted or is it the fear of the unknown
- Do you have enough money to support yourself and your children
- Do you need to move and, if so, where do you want to live?
- Be kind to yourself
With the introduction of the new divorce laws in 2022, the process is a simpler one and removes the concept of ‘fault’ which, in effect, means that it negates the need to assign blame of why the marriage broke down.
If you have now decided to take matters further, then your first port of call should be to a very good solicitor who will be able to talk you through all your options. Even if you decide to apply for the divorce yourself, it doesn’t take into consideration the financial side of your marriage, nor any child arrangements and so early advice is essential.
For that first meeting, it would be helpful if you were able to provide some information about your finances including the value of your home, your outstanding mortgage, savings, liabilities and pensions to assist your solicitor to tailor the advice to your particular situation.
During your time with your solicitor, you may wish to explore other avenues which are perhaps less contentious than appearing at Court (which only happens if the parties can’t agree to a divorce settlement) and that could be going down a collaborative route which can be a great alternative for those seeking a more personal and effective way of managing acrimony.
Whatever you decide, Ramsdens will be by your side every step of the way. You can contact us on our special family helpline on 08000 147720 or email family@ramsdens.co.uk and book a free information session at any of our offices so that we can speak to you about your options.
The above article is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any part of the information given.