A top Yorkshire family lawyer is calling on warring couples to turn ‘Divorce Day’ into ‘Mediation Monday’ to lessen the harmful impact of marital separation.
The first working Monday of January is commonly known as ‘Divorce Day’ due to the rise in the number of couples considering ending their marriages after the festive holidays.
Tension in relationships can come to a head in the pressure-cooker Christmas environment and when coupled with the financial concerns the season can bring, divorce lawyers unsurprisingly report that early January brings a flurry of calls.
Nicki Mitchell, Partner at Lupton Fawcett LLP in York, specialises in mediation and collaborative family law, which aims to reduce conflict and ensure the individuals involved keep control of significant issues, including children and finances, rather than handing them over to the courts.
Nicki said: “It is well reported that January is a peak time for divorce lawyers, but that doesn’t have to mean acrimony and bitterness.
“If a couple has taken the decision to separate there are a number of ways to proceed. At Lupton Fawcett we follow the Resolution Code of Practice, which aims to alleviate the stress and anxiety that marital breakdown causes, whatever the time of year.
“This means placing the interests of the family at the centre of the negotiations to reach a settlement without resorting to the court process. Mediation is not designed to solve issues within the relationship, but issues arising from the separation involving children, property or money. It is far less confrontational, can be a lot quicker than going through the courts, and is far cheaper. Decisions reached following mediation are much more likely to work because the couple have both agreed to them.
“Divorce is never a happy time but with the right advice and support it can be made easier for everyone involved.”
