Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Key information
-
Our family lawyers are members of Resolution, a body
dedicated to helping couples separate in a dignified and
non-confrontational way through their Code of Practice.
-
The Resolution Code focuses on
reducing conflict, supporting families to make good decisions
and providing advice based on honesty, integrity and objectivity.
-
A 'good divorce' prioritises fairness, full disclosure of assets and
putting children's interests first, enabling both parties to move forward
respectfully.
-
Court proceedings should be a last resort - alternative
dispute resolution methods are often less stressful, more affordable and
less damaging to families.
-
Resolution practitioners help clients
balance financial and emotional costs, manage stress and
consider the long-term impact of their decisions.
-
Our approach emphasises
communication, collaboration and transparency rather than
inflammatory language and confrontation.
SME’s family lawyers are members of
Resolution, which is a body set up
over 40 years ago to find a better way to help couples separate in a dignified
and non-confrontational way. Their Code of Practice aims to reduce and manage
conflict and support families to make good decisions for themselves with
advice based on honesty, integrity and objectivity.
During Resolution's Good Divorce Week, we’re raising awareness of the Code and
what it means for our clients. By following the Code, we believe we can
provide a better way to help our clients manage one of the most stressful
events of their lives.
What is the Resolution Code of Practice?
The Resolution Code of Practice means that you can expect a constructive
approach to resolving your family matters, while considering the needs of the
whole family.
Resolution member practitioners will:
-
Listen to you, be honest with you and treat you with
respect
-
Explain all the options and give you the confidence to make
the right decisions
-
Help you to focus on what’s important in the long-term
-
Help you to balance financial and emotional costs with what
you want to achieve
-
Work with others to find the right approach and the best
solutions for you
-
Manage stress in what can be an already stressful situation
This means that:
- We avoid inflammatory language
-
We support and encourage families to put the best interests of children
first
- We act with honesty, integrity and objectivity
-
We help clients consider the long-term emotional and financial impact of
their decisions
- We promote communication and collaboration wherever possible
-
We use experience and knowledge to guide clients through the options
available to them
Learn more
What does a ‘good divorce’ mean for clients?
When couples separate, emotions can prevent them from addressing practical
and financial matters constructively. However, treating each other fairly is
essential to achieving a good divorce. This principle lies at the heart of
divorce legislation and family law practice. In our view, a divorce handled
with mutual respect helps both parties move forward more quickly.
Family specialist Justine Lowe says, “from our point of view, a good divorce
means that both parties have offered full and frank disclosure of all
assets, debts and income and then divided up the matrimonial finances in a
fair way. It means that their children’s interests are put first and that
both parties walk away knowing that they did right by each other and
considered things perhaps from each other’s perspective in accordance with
the law.”
The breakdown of a relationship is one thing to handle but parting with
fairness and consideration to each other needs means that divorce needn’t be
as fraught and costly for either.
There is a ‘better way’ forward
Divorce is never easy. There is a stereotype and stigma attached to it and
unless you've been through it yourself, your only experience may be through
sensationalist TV dramas or films; or reading about the high-profile,
multimillion pound cases in the news.
Perhaps understandably, many see divorce as highly acrimonious, riddled with
conflict and bitterness, with a devastating impact on children. But for
many, the reality is very different. The truth is, court should be a last
resort. There are alternative paths that can be less stressful, more
affordable, and far less damaging - especially for children.
For some couples, litigation may well be the only way for them to resolve
their dispute, but far too many families going through separation end up in
avoidable and acrimonious court proceedings. It doesn't have to be like this
– there is a 'better way'.
Where it's possible to do so, we seek to resolve problems outside of court,
through a range of options, helping couples take more control over the
process and enabling them to move on with their lives more quickly than
through the courts.
