Legal

Legal eagle

Divorce costs lower than ever – but professional advice still recommended

The cost of getting a divorce has been slashed with the advent of new legislation which makes it easier than ever for couples to go their separate ways. Legal experts at law firm Lanyon Bowdler, which has offices in Conwy, say the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill has revolutionised the divorce process. The Bill, which came into force earlier this year, has ended the necessity for couples to prove one of five grounds for divorce, allowing them instead to simply agree that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. Couples can now even complete the process themselves online, although that could lead to complications further down the line, as Caroline Yorke, of Lanyon Bowdler’s family law team, explains. “The changes have certainly made a huge difference to the divorce process, and in very straightforward cases people may want to go through the procedure themselves,” she says. “However, if property or children are involved, I would strongly advise getting in touch with a solicitor to make sure that the correct steps are taken. There are a lot of things to consider, especially regarding children and who is responsible for future decisions, which are not always easy to agree on during the course of divorce proceedings. The main benefit of the new legislation is removing the so-called blame game, so a separation can be more amicable and positive, rather than the unpleasant adversarial divorce proceedings of the past. Whatever route you take, the cost of getting a divorce is certainly lower now than it has been in the past, which is understandably a great source of relief for couples who are going through a difficult enough time without the stress of paying a lot of legal fees.”

Free legal advice clinics a successful initiative for law firm

A series of free events to give people advice on how to pursue a clinical negligence or personal injury case have been declared a success. Solicitors from Lanyon Bowdler held the legal clinics at their Conwy office during the summer, and are now planning future events. Laura Weir (pictured), a clinical negligence expert at Lanyon Bowdler, said the events had been well-received. “It was great to welcome people to our offices in Conwy, and we were able to help with a range of enquiries,” she said. “Along with the head of the firm’s clinical negligence team, Beth Heath, I met with a number of people who had experienced some serious issues whilst being treated at local hospitals. The key thing we discussed was whether their case would meet the legal test and the options available for funding these claims, which is always a major consideration for people before taking legal action. These free clinics are a brilliant opportunity for people to sit down with us, in a welcoming environment, to see how we can help them make a claim for compensation - which can be life-changing. We are always very happy to talk to people about potential clinical negligence or personal injury cases, whether that be at a future legal clinic or by a direct enquiry.”