Author Archives: Tim Bishop

Romsey Family Mediation and Collaborative Law

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The issues you confront during divorce proceedings are enormously important. When making arrangements that affect your children’s lives and your future financial security you want to make sure that you get it right. However, so many people let bitter feuds with their ex-partner get in the way of achieving fair divorce settlements. Those who can put their differences aside however could save time, money and emotional strain by using family mediation and collaborative law, two alternative forms of dispute resolution which Bonallack & Bishop can offer to clients in Romsey.

ROMSEY FAMILY MEDIATION AND COLLABORATIVE LAW EXPERTS

It is important to note that family mediation and collaborative law will not be appropriate in all circumstances. Some couples differences will simply cause too much argument for either of theses dispute resolution methods to be effective. However, couples who feel that they can negotiate with each other in order to reach the fairest deal for both parties could enjoy excellent results and can save themselves a great deal of heartache in the process.

REACH OUR SPECIALIST FAMILY LAW TEAM ON 01264 364433

Call today and our expert family law team will be able to tell you whether or not your divorce case is well suited to either collaborative law or family mediation. Our collaborative lawyers and family mediators only practice family law so your advice will be coming from specialists.

Both your initial telephone advice and your first 30-minute appointment are FREE of charge, so why delay?

Call 01264 364433 or

Email the team at advice@familymediationcollaborativelaw.co.uk

Sherborne Family Mediation and Collaborative Law

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With all the bitterness involved in the often arduous divorce process it is not surprising that many people end up with divorce settlements that do not fully account for the needs. Your divorce settlement should recognise issues as important as your finances and contact arrangements for your children, so it is crucial that you make the right decisions.  Here at Bonallack & Bishop, we use family mediation and collaborative law to help you resolve the disputes arising from divorce expeditiously and in our experience, these routes prove more cost-effective and less acrimonious.

BONALLACK & BISHOP – HELPING CLIENTS IN SHERBOURNE WITH FAMILY MEDIATION AND COLLABORATIVE LAW

Separating couples in Sherborne who are willing to talk through the issues that arise during their divorce stand to reap great benefits from family mediation or collaborative law. Discussing matters calmly and in the presence of legal experts facilitates the creation of fair agreements for both parties. These dispute resolution methods are not appropriate to everyone though and couples who are not willing to cooperate with each other are unlikely to benefit.

CALL OUR EXPERTS TODAY FOR FREE FAMILY MEDIATION ADVICE

Our dedicated family law team features 2 fully accredited collaborative lawyers and 3 family mediators who are also qualified lawyers. We therefore have all the expertise that separating couples in Sherborne need.

Call [01722] 422300 today to

• Receive FREE initial phone advice

• Arrange your FREE first appointment

Or alternatively, email advice@familymediationcollaborativelaw.co.uk.

 

Shaftesbury Family Mediation and Collaborative Law

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Your financial future and the futures of your children rest heavily on the agreements reached (or the judgments made) during the divorce process. Given the importance of the issues involved in the divorce process it is desirable to take all unnecessary traumas out of the situation but unfortunately going through family courts can be enormously stressful. The family law team at Bonallack & Bishop can use family mediation or collaborative law as alternatives to traditional divorce proceedings in order to save clients in Shaftesbury stress, delay and money.

FAMILY MEDIATION/COLLABORATIVE LAW EXPERTS NEAR SHAFTESBURY

In our experience helping separating couples across the South, family mediation and collaborative law lead to fairer arrangements made in less imposing surroundings. Those clients who are willing to leave bitterness at the door, sit down with their ex-partner and focus on achieving fair outcomes can therefore benefit greatly from these methods. However, couples who cannot set their differences aside will not be able to engage in the family mediation or collaborative and should stick to the traditional divorce process.

COULD FAMILY MEDIATION OR COLLABORATIVE LAW HELP YOU? CALL TODAY

The collaborative lawyers and family mediators at Bonallack & Bishop are fully accredited specialists practising nothing but family law. Call today and we will be able to advice you on the most appropriate form of dispute resolution for your Shaftesbury divorce, civil partnership dissolution or separation.

If you come to Bonallack and Bishop, your initial telephone advice and your first appointment with one of our specialists is free.

So simply phone us on [01722] 422300,

Or, if you prefer, email advice@familymediationcollaborativelaw.co.uk.

Warminster Family Mediation and Collaborative Law

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Divorce is a deeply stressful process for many people, fraught with bitter arguments over the children and the division of financial assets. However, at Bonallack & Bishop, we believe that divorce does not always need to be this way. We offer clients in Warminster alternative ways of sorting out the disputes involved in their divorce in the form of family mediation and collaborative law. Using these methods can not only save a lot of argument but a lot of time and money as well and our firm has the expert collaborative lawyers and family mediators required in order to reach the fairest possible outcomes for your divorce.

EXPERT FAMILY MEDIATORS AND COLLABORATIVE LAWYERS SERVING WARMINSTER

It is important to note that family mediation and collaborative law will not be appropriate to every divorce case, particularly those where the parties argue too much to be able to discuss issues. However, those who believe that they can negotiate with their ex-partner in the presence of lawyers could benefit hugely like many of our clients have in the past. Whether you are divorcing, dissolving a civil partnership or separating following a co-habiting relationship – we could help. So, call our expert family team near Hampshire for FREE advice.

[01722] 422300 FOR WARMINSTER FAMILY LAW EXPERTS

If you approach our team of family lawyers you will receive advice from accredited collaborative lawyers and family mediators/lawyers, making us certified specialists.

Call today and you will receive a FREE initial phone consultation and a FREE first half hour appointment.

So, for family mediation and collaborative law advice in Warminster, simply call [01722] 422300 or

Email advice@familymediationcollaborativelaw.co.uk for expert advice.

 

Devizes Family Mediation and Collaborative Law

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Specialist Family Lawyers/MediatorsDevizes Family Mediation and Collaborative Law - Resolution Mediator Logo

Divorce is an inherently stressful process but it needn’t take years, enormous expenditure on legal fees and bitter arguments to complete. There are alternative methods of dispute resolution known as collaborative law and family mediation which could not only save separating couples time and money but acrimony as well.

No Family Mediators in Devizes

Separating couples in Devizes currently will not be able to find a family mediator in their local area but thankfully, Bonallack and Bishop based in nearby Salisbury and Amesbury have specialist family mediators who can help.

LOOKING FOR AN EXPERT FAMILY MEDIATOR? CALL US NOW

Couples who are willing to cooperate can reap great rewards from the family mediation or collaborative law process. These alternative forms of dispute resolution encourage couples to reach fair agreements between themselves under the guidance of fully qualified family law experts.

Our family mediators are already qualified family lawyers and our collaborative lawyers hold full accreditation. We therefore have the expertise that couples in Devizes need in order to make fair arrangements for all concerned in the divorce settlement.

FAMILY MEDIATION AND COLLABORATIVE LAW ADVICE AVAILABLE FROM BONALLACK & BISHOP

Bonallack & Bishop has the family mediators that couples in Devizes need to take some of the stress out of their divorce, civil partnership dissolution or separation.

Get in touch today to receive your FREE initial telephone advice and arrange your FREE first 30 minute appointment with one of our specialists.

 

Fordingbridge Family Mediation and Collaborative Law

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If you going through a relationship breakdown, divorce or civil partnership dissolution, you will want to reach fair agreements over your finances and arrangements for any children who may be involved quickly, cost effectively and with minimum argument. Unfortunately, separations are rarely so straightforward and the bitterness of the parties often gets in the way of finding fair resolutions. Collaborative law and family mediation are ways of settling the issues arising from divorce expeditiously and amicably, saving parties money in the process.

However, at the time of writing this blog, there are no family mediators in Fordingbridge.

Fortunately, Bonallack & Bishop in nearby Salisbury have expert family mediators and can help couples in Fordingbridge with their separations.

FAMILY MEDIATORS AVAILABLE TO SEPARATING COUPLES IN FORDINGBRIDGE

Family mediation and collaborative law are not well suited to every couple. Those whose differences are too deep set for them to be able to talk through issues should stick with the traditional divorce route. However, those who believe that they can sit down and negotiate issues relating to children and finances for example will find that there is much to be gained with family mediation and collaborative law. Our expert team of family lawyers could help you with either of these dispute resolution methods.

CALL [01722] 422300 FOR ADVICE ON FAMILY MEDIATION AND COLLABORATIVE LAW

Our family mediators are also experienced lawyers and have fully qualified collaborative lawyers who could help clients in Fordingbridge as well.

Your first telephone consultation is FREE, as is your first 30 minutes appointment with a member of out team – so call [01722] 422300 today,

Email us at advice@familymediationcollaborativelaw.co.uk.

Family mediation – it really is cheaper and quicker – and that’s official

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Anybody who has browsed this website, or who has read any of my earlier blog entries, will know that we are big fans of both the family mediation and collaborative law approaches to solving disputes arising out of relationship breakdown. Apart from all the other benefits such as reducing conflict, giving parties control, reassuring children that their parents are working together in the interests and generally making the whole process more dignified, we have always been utterly convinced that family mediation is much quicker and often much cheaper.

So it was nice to come across some official statistics that back me up. According to the National Audit Office “Value for Money Report”, family mediation services really do resolve family disputes more quickly and cheaply. Now, I should point out at this stage, that this report is hardly bang up to date – it’s over five years old and also did relate to family mediation using public funding [as we must now call legal aid] – but I’m pretty sure that the principles are sound.

According to the National Audit Office, the average family law dispute case dealt with by family mediators are sorted out in an average of just 110 days – which is quite remarkable when you compare that to the average length of non-mediated cases – an amazing 435 days! What’s more, the National Audit Office reports the average cost per client of resolving family law disputes using mediation was just £535 compared to £2,823 for disputes dealt with by the courts – again using public funding.

So there you have it – official proof that in addition to all its other benefits family mediation really is cheaper and quicker.

Family mediation set to receive funding injection

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The government is set to invest £10m in family mediation; a move which it hopes will remove pressure on the courts and take some of the stress and acrimony out of divorce proceedings.

It has long been held that the government should throw support behind methods of dispute resolution which are cheaper, faster and less complicated than court proceedings. Family mediation has steadily grown in popularity in recent years and is now deemed to help save the expense and animosity that often characterises divorce.

Under family mediation, couples are encouraged to reach agreements between themselves without the need for solicitors to argue their case in court. It is usually the division of finances and arrangement of child residency and contact provisions that are decided using the process. Couples discuss their issues over a series of meetings with a fully accredited family mediator present. This mediator is able to direct discussions and encourage agreement before a final decision on the matters is taken by a judge. Whilst both sides should instruct a solicitor to inform them of their rights, solicitors will not be directly involved in the process.

Traditional court proceedings can be extremely stressful and it is often children who suffer the most and the new government plans may help to take some of the trauma out of divorce and separation. The government has already made it a legal requirement for couples to attend a family mediation meeting before being able to get any court orders relating to child custody or financial matters.

The problem with the new proposal is the figure itself. Whilst the government is absolutely right to look to give family mediation services more backing, £10m is not really enough of a commitment. Considering that this method could be crucial to many couples across the country, it is disappointing that the government has assigned such a small sum to its expansion.

Call our specialist Family Mediators/Lawyers today

SALISBURY [01722] 422300

AMESBURY [01980] 622992

ANDOVER [01264] 364433                

OR e-mail advice@familymediationcollaborativelaw.co.uk

The process of Family Mediation

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Family Mediation is a way of resolving relationship disagreements without involving the courts.

The Mediator will contact your partner to find out if they are willing to try mediation and, if they are, you can then attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) either with your partner or alone, to establish whether or not Mediation is suitable for both of you. A Family Mediator is trained to help you reach an agreement without bias in a safe and neutral environment in which you and your family members explain your concerns and needs to each other. They will also:

• Check eligibility for free publicly-funded Mediation (formerly Legal Aid). If you are not eligible you will have to pay for each session; as a guideline, Legal Aid pays £87 plus VAT per person or £130 plus VAT where both partners are present

• Schedule further meetings at which you may work on communication issues, renew arrangements for children, exchange financial information and consider options

• Suggest other help, such as financial advice or support for your children

If you are applying for a Court Order about finances, money, property, possessions and arrangements for any children from the relationship however, the Court will require you to have attended an MIAM, with the following exceptions:

• Your Mediator submits form FM1 indicating that one of you was not willing to attend an MIAM

• Your Mediator has communicated that the case is not suitable for Mediation within the past four months

• either of you has made an allegation of domestic violence against the other within the past 12 months and police investigations or civil proceedings were started

• your dispute is about money and either of you is bankrupt

• you do not know the whereabouts of your partner

• you want to apply for a Court Order but for specific reasons do not intend to give your partner any notice

• the court application is urgent because somebody’s life or physical safety is at risk or a child is at risk of significant harm

• the Order is about a child who is already involved with social services because of concerns over their protection

• you have contacted three Mediators within 15 miles of your home and are unable to get an appointment with any of them within 15 working days

If you are considering or are ready to seek Family Mediation, contact our specialist Family Law team who can provide you with expert legal advice – 2  of them are jointly qualified and accredited lawyers/Family Mediators.

Our 3rd Collaborative Lawyer – Mark Eyles

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We are extremely happy to welcome Mark Eyles to our Divorce Team as an Associate Family Solicitor. Mark is a member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) and is a fully trained and accredited Collaborative Lawyer – we now have 3 Collaborative Lawyers. He is also a Resolution accredited specialist in Children matters.

We champion Collaborative Law as one of the most effective approaches, together with Family Mediation, for resolving disputes arising from divorce and Children matters and the arrival of another experienced specialist in this area is a cause for some considerable rejoicing. We recognise that with his depth of experience as a Collaborative Lawyer specialising in high net worth financial disputes which have arisen out of relationship breakdown, divorce and matters pertaining to children, Mark is able to provide his clients with a quality of service and high degree of expertise not available from non-specialist solicitors. He also brings with him a proven track record as an extremely able and well established advocate in court.

For a firm that strives to recruit lawyers who are true specialists in their field, it’s great when one joins who is a specialist in more than one area of law. Mark is one such solicitor who in addition to his vast expertise in Collaborative Law, comes to us as an acknowledged specialist in the extraordinarily complex area of police and armed forces pensions. We feel that Mark very much represents a ‘two for the price of one deal’ for us and we are delighted to have him with us.

Mark will represent clients in Northampton, Leicester, Coventry, Rugby, Milton Keynes and Andover.