Samuel Phillips Law Blog
Family mediation is a process that resolves disputes involving children and/or financial issues following separation. The sessions are led by a fully trained, independent mediator who is neutral and will not take either side.
As part of mediation week, we have put questions to our very own resident Family Mediator, Jennifer Goldstein. We are keen to find out more about family mediation and how it used to help separating couples. Jennifer is a Senior Partner at Samuel Phillips Law, specialising in Divorce and Family Law. She has been an accredited Family Mediator since 2015.
Taking place between 18 – 22 January 2021 is Family Mediation Week. The aim is to raise awareness of mediation and how it can help separating families reach an amicable agreement about family-based issues. Many couples going through a separation or a divorce do not know that mediation is an option for them.
In a slight departure from the usual legal and HR focussed articles we thought, in light of the latest lockdown and its implications for working parents we provide a piece that may support your staff in such a position. Please feel free to share this with your employees if you think it may offer some insight and support at this very difficult time.
Parental abduction is when one parent removes or keeps a child from the country they normally live in, without the agreement of the other parent. A parent can only travel abroad with their child if everyone with parental responsibility agrees. Without this, a child cannot be removed from the UK, as this would be abduction - a criminal offence in the UK.
Under current EU regulations, subject to certain criteria being met, married couples can choose which country their divorce takes place. This allows an EU citizen to travel around Europe and choose a Court which they believe will give them a more favourable divorce settlement. Commonly known as “Divorce Tourism”.
The first lockdown was difficult for many couples. Not having the opportunity to spend time away from each other, juggling home-schooling with homeworking plus financial and health worries put an extraordinary strain on many marriages. This has left many couples wondering whether their relationship has sufficient immunity to survive another lockdown.
If you are considering a divorce, a major concern is likely to be how you will pay for legal advice. At a time when finances are often already under considerable strain, fears about potential costs of legal fees puts many people off obtaining early legal advice. Paradoxically paying for legal advice can save you money. A solicitor will help you to understand your entitlements enabling you to make informed decisions and ultimately achieve a better settlement.
This is going to make a huge difference to sorting out your affairs following the decision to separate. Faced with the inevitable – resistant former Spouses are likely to be more willing to negotiate an agreement in relation to finances and children. Our outdated Divorce law 1973, has been a frustration for Family Lawyers for decades. We go into marriage freely and should be able to leave marriage freely. The Family Team at Samuel Phillips offer experienced advice and guidance.
A common concern amongst separated parents is that if anything were to happen to them, their child could be sent to live with a parent with whom they have had no contact or do not have a good relationship with. Another concern is that their child may be forced to move away and will lose contact with their extended family and friends who’ve had an important role in their life.