In this blog we cover what a good divorce looks like and what makes a good divorce lawyer.
With the Good Divorce Week campaign organised by Resolution, the UK’s leading network for family lawyers taking place from 28 November to 2 December it’s an ideal time to delve into the topic of how to have a good divorce.
The aim of the Good Divorce Week campaign is to highlight the options for dealing with family law disputes outside of a Court. All family lawyers at Woolley & Co are members of Resolution and we are committed to the concept of helping people to have a good divorce.
What does a good divorce look like?
When we talk about a good divorce, we mean one that avoids unnecessary conflict and Court proceedings while making sure the outcome matches your needs and those of your loved ones. Striving for a non-confrontational approach can help to make divorce much less stressful and emotionally taxing for everyone involved.
To give you the best chance of achieving a good divorce, it is essential to work with a good divorce lawyer, which is something we are confident we can provide at Woolley & Co.
What makes a good divorce lawyer?
Good communication
Your lawyer has to be able to listen to you in an empathetic and supportive way. A good divorce solicitor should be keen to understand how you are feeling, your concerns and what you need from your divorce. They should explain everything to you in plain English without falling back on jargon and they should be available when you have questions or need reassurance.
At Woolley & Co, we work hard to build a rapport with each of our clients and are proud that this is so often reflected in the positive feedback we receive.
Trust
You are likely to be sharing some very sensitive, personal details with your lawyer, so it is essential that you can trust them to treat this information with tact and in the greatest confidence.
You can trust the team at Woolley & Co will treat anything you share with strict confidentiality.
Honesty
You have to listen to and absorb the advice your lawyer gives you. This is particularly important when it comes to your rights and what you can expect to achieve in relation to your finances and arrangements for your children.
Our lawyers will always be honest about your situation, including if the outcome you are hoping for may not be possible. You can, therefore, always rely on the advice we give.
Qualifications you can trust
A good divorce lawyer should be a qualified specialist in family law. This helps to ensure that they fully understand all the nuances of this complex legal field, including the latest case law and all the court procedures. A general legal practitioner is unlikely to have the knowledge and experience you need, so would not be a good lawyer for divorce.
Every lawyer at Woolley & Co is a qualified, specialist family law expert with at least 15 years of post-qualification experience. We also ensure every member of the team receives ongoing training and development support, so they stay up to date.
As a firm, we have secured top rankings in leading clients guide the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, providing independent assurance of our expertise.
Experience
A good divorce lawyer should have extensive experience in dealing with divorce and family law, with specific experience in cases similar to yours. If you have high value assets, complex issues surrounding children or any other specific matters you need support with, you really need a lawyer who knows exactly how these matters work.
As mentioned above, all of our family lawyers have a minimum of 15 years’ post-qualification experience. Across the team, we have handled every type of divorce situation you can imagine, so can always match you with a lawyer with the appropriate expertise.
Excellent service
You should feel like your lawyer cares about your divorce and is giving you adequate attention. Your case should progress at a sensible pace with any reason for delay clearly explained. You should expect your calls and emails to be answered promptly and to not have to chase your lawyer for updates on your case.
At Woolley & Co, this is exactly what we offer to our clients. We operate to a Client Charter which includes a commitment to reply to all communications within 48 hours, to be proactive, approachable and responsive, and to answer your phone calls personally wherever possible.
Value for money
Value for money is not the same as “cheap”, but you should always feel like the outcome your lawyer achieves for you is proportionate to their fees. You should not be afraid to ask about fees upfront and the sort of results a lawyer has previously achieved in order to justify those fees.
We offer a free 30-minute initial consultation so you can speak to us about your divorce and what you hope to achieve. We will talk you through our fees and the likely costs involved so you can make a sensible decision about whether you feel we will offer you value for money.
A track record of happy clients
One of the best signs of a good divorce lawyer is what their previous clients have to say about them. You should always take a look at their reviews to get a clear picture of the service you can expect.
You can read reviews of Woolley & Co on ReviewSolicitors.co.uk.
Talk to Woolley & Co Solicitors about your divorce
Ending your marriage is a huge decision that will affect your life in many different ways, so it is really important to have the support of a good divorce solicitor through the process. This helps to ensure you fully understand all of the ways you and your loved ones will be affected and that you can get the best possible outcome for your future.
At Woolley & Co Solicitors, our expert divorce lawyers can offer specialist legal advice to guide you through a quick and stress-free divorce process. We can advise you on the full implications of getting divorced and everything you need to plan for, then guide you through the entire process.
To take advantage of your free 30-minute consultation with an expert local family law solicitor, call 0800 321 3832 or complete our quick online form.
Richard England
Divorce and Family Solicitor Sutton Coldfield
