Is it possible to have a 'good' divorce?

Divorces are on the increase again with the most recent statistics showing 113,000 divorces in 2021 – up nearly 10% on the previous year – and the impact on wait times is stark. On average it now takes a year to conclude divorce proceedings. In addition, official figures show that family cases involving parents disagreeing over living and contact arrangements for children were down by 7% during the last year, they are taking on average six weeks longer to reach a conclusion. Estimates suggest it takes nearly two years to resolve financial matters following a separation and divorce. That leaves many families in limbo for over a year. That has a knock-on effect on children’s schooling and family finances. Resolution (the national family law association for England and Wales) held its annual “Good Divorce Week” towards the end of November 2022 to highlight why the Government must support better advice for separating families and the human suffering and cost caused by family court delays Good Divorce Week is an annual awareness campaign run by Resolution, an organisation that represents over 6,500 family professionals, which helps people find a better way to divorce. Resolution surveyed its members on the current court backlogs and found: • 20% said court delays caused clients to rely on benefits • 34% said they’d referred a client to a counsellor or therapist to help them cope with the stress of ongoing court delays • 90% said court backlogs were causing additional and unnecessary stress and pressure for clients Simon Thomas, Partner and head of the family law team at Leeds Day LLP, comments: “Backlogs are wreaking havoc on local families in location. Even couples who want to separate amicably are having their patience and their continued relationship tested to breaking point by long delays. When it comes to sorting out children arrangements and finances after divorce, the situation is even bleaker. Children are waiting nearly a year for the courts to determine which parent they live with, what school they go to, how much time they spend with the other parent – putting the whole family’s life on hold. This is simply unacceptable and another reason why getting early professional advice is so important for families”. At Leeds Day LLP, our family law solicitors are members of Resolution and committed to promoting a constructive approach to family issues and consider the needs of the whole family, in particular the best interests of the children.

To find out more, contact Simon (who is also an accredited Resolution specialist in family finances on divorce and children), by telephone: 01480 474661, email: simon.thomas@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website: www.leedsday.co.uk/family.

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