Free break-up advice

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Breaking up is always tough, but one law firm is running clinics this week to show how it doesn't have to cost you and your family thousands of pounds in lawyers' fees and court costs.

Advocate Barbara Corbett, who is Partner and Head of Family Law at Hanson Renouf, is running free sessions all day on Thursday to show how couples can resolve their differences in a non-confrontational manner.

As part of National Family Dispute Resolution Week she will be explaining some of the different methods of resolving family breakdown including mediation, collaborative law and arbitration.

All three aim to help people resolve their differences without the need for lengthy and expensive court battles.

The Mediator’s role is to facilitate agreement between the parties and to remain neutral throughout the process.

Collaborative Law is very similar but each party’s lawyer is also present and the process involves round table meetings with the parties and their lawyers. Both parties must agree not to take the matter to Court, but if one party subsequently takes the matter to Court, he or she is not allowed to use the same lawyer. The lawyers aim to work together in a collaborative manner.

Family Arbitration is like putting the decision making in the hands of a judge without any Court proceedings. You can ask the Arbitrator to deal with all of the issues arising from your family breakdown or limit his or her involvement to one or two specific aspects.  The process is completely confidential and you will get a final decision much more quickly and more cost effectively than going through the Court process.

The free half-hour sessions are by appointment only from 9 am to 5 pm on Thursday at Hanson Renouf's offices at 12 Hill Street. You can book by calling Jamie-Lee Morgan on 767764.