The first Monday in January has become known as ‘Divorce Day’ the busiest day in the life of a family lawyer, as people use the New Year to make a decision about their relationships and marriage and take steps that they may, until then, have been putting off until after Christmas.
The pressure to turn your life around in January with a new exercise regime, hydration, meditation, nutrition (and don’t forget cold showers!) may already be enough. This looming day should not become another pressure to add to the stress of the New Year, it has to be the right time for you and your family.
The important thing is finding a clear pathway from your separation to your newly separated lives and, if you have children, devising the means to be able to parent your children effectively when not living together.
A good lawyer should break things down for you into manageable steps and work with you to come up with a plan that takes some of that pressure off and show you what the next step looks like for your family, to avoid overwhelm. Importantly, supporting parties towards a solution that will work for each and both of them and, if they are parents, for their children. With the knowledge of what legal procedures are in play and ensuring that you can reach a binding outcome of whatever kind you need.
Although they are specialised in matters of law and procedure, many family lawyers have also developed their knowledge and skills in respect of general understanding of the emotional and psychological effects of family separation and the effects for children, abuse in the home, family finances (particularly where it relates to the expectation of the Court and the boundaries of applicable law) and may also help clients in considering the practical and day to day issues that need managing as they work towards an outcome.
Importantly, a good family lawyer will know, and be able to signpost for you, or bring in – other trusted professionals who will support the process and provide a comprehensive wrap-around service. This really helps if you are struggling to know where to start.
You may be concerned about the element of cost, but the fact is, co-ordinating and designing the services that are needed can often result in greater overall efficiency, less delay and less cost. Also, quite simply, it is worth checking – for your own present and (really importantly) future peace of mind.
The key message from ‘Divorce Day’ is that you are not alone.
If you require any advice or assistance in relation to any aspect of family law, please do not hesitate to contact Dianne, Kate or Katie in our family team to provide specialist advice and offer a free initial consultation.
Article by Katie Audsley
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