Mediation required in all family matters

On the 22^nd April this year a considerable change was made by the government to the way separating couples will be required to deal with their divorce and any negotiations relating to financial matters or the arrangements to be made for the care of their children.

All couples will now be required to at least consider mediation as a way forward before they will be able to approach the courts. It is the government’s intention to keep lawyers away from the process as much as possible.

Many family lawyers are concerned that this may result in couples not receiving the appropriate advice at a very important time in their lives. Indeed it is proposed that there will be advice centres staffed by trainee lawyers and students.

Neil Remnant of JMP Solicitors who has been in practice as a family lawyer for 40 years commented “As a resolution member I am committed to providing a constructive and non confrontational approach to dealing with separation and in my opinion mediation should run in conjunction with the court process”.

At JMP Solicitors Neil provides set fee arrangements for advising separating couples and in the vast majority of cases settlements are achieved without expensive and lengthy court proceedings.

There is no doubt that it is essential that separating couples receive the correct and proper help and advice at what is a very important time of their lives when the decisions they make could affect the rest of their lives. The best legal advice is absolutely essential and should not be overlooked.

Contact Neil Remnant on nremnant@jmp-solicitors.com or on 01476 565 295.

Fixed Rate Divorce Website Launch

JMP Solicitors has taken the innovative step of creating a dedicated website providing information on their fixed rate divorce packages.

The service is headed up by specialist divorce lawyer, Neil Remnant who provides a UK wide service from the JMP Solicitors offices in Grantham, Warrington and London and provides a fixed rate divorce service from just £350 plus VAT and court fees.

The website has today been launched at www.fixedratedivorce.co.uk

 

Divorcing couples to fast-track agreements over finances

Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, is to publish draft rules that will make it possible for divorcing couples to fast-track agreements over finances by arbitration and then have them confirmed by the courts.

In a letter to family lawyers outlining reforms that will create a new single family court in April, he says he "wants to move forward" in arbitration and other ways of resolving family disputes.

Sir James says that, pending general rule changes in disputes, he plans to issue a draft rule drawing on a judgment in the S v S case, involving a couple who split in 2012 after 26 years together. They reached the decree nisi stage of divorce and agreed to refer their financial settlement to arbitration. Their assets were between £1.5 and £2m.

James Pirrie, who acted in the case, and is a member of the national committee of Resolution, the association of family lawyers, commented: "Anyone involved in family law should welcome this judgment, which highlights the many advantages of arbitration and builds confidence that an arbitrator's award will help in resolving a dispute.

In this case, the matter was resolved within eight weeks from the signing of the agreement to arbitrate to the issue of the award, anonymity has been retained, and the costs to both parties are a fraction of what they might have otherwise been.

(source: The Times)

Changes in the law expected for prenuptial agreements

 

In this country, unlike America, prenuptial agreements have not held any authority in law. This is despite a legal ruling in the Supreme Court in 2010 that Judges may take them into account at their discretion when considering financial applications with Divorce Proceedings.

However proposals which are expected to attract cross party political support are to be published later this month alongside a draft bill which will, if approved, enshrine prenuptial agreements in Law.

For the first time engaged couples will be allowed to ring fence certain items that they will keep should their forth coming marriage end in divorce. If this proposal is made into law then the prenuptial agreement will become an important document, almost an insurance against divorce!

It is important to note that it is not always just the mans wealth that needs protecting but the woman’s too.

If you would like advice on prenuptial agreements please contact Neil Remnant at JMP Solicitors on 01476 561415 or via email on nremnant@jmp-solicitors.com

A 'happy' Christmas?

Christmas is viewed by many as being a special time for families but it is a sad fact of life for many that it can be a very difficult time as well.

The children of separated parents will find this time of year difficult and upsetting as they will wish to spend time with both parents. However there are ways of easing the difficulty. For example the children can spend Christmas Day with one parent and Boxing Day with the other. They can actually have two Christmases a prospect that a lot of children will look forward to. This arrangement can be alternated each year. What is appropriate will depend on the circumstances of the children and individuals.

Christmas also brings other pressures, usually financial and spending time together in strained circumstances can also cause problems for couples. If you find yourself in this difficult situation please contact us and we will advise you on your position.

Many people will inevitably see the New Year as a chance to have a fresh start, to change their lives and to sort out their family problems. If you find yourselves in need of family law advice please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you and advise on the best course of action.”

Neil Remnant head up the family law department at Grantham based JMP Solicitors and is available on 01476 561415 or nremnant@jmp-solicitors.com

 

New family law department opens in Grantham

JMP Solicitors are pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Remnant who joins the firm as their new head of family law from HRW Hilliers Solicitors.

Neil is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and also an Accredited Specialist of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) with particular specialisation in Advanced Financial Provision and Private Law Children matters.

Commenting on his appointment Neil said “ I am very pleased and excited to be given the opportunity to set up a new family department in such a progressive and forward thinking firm as JMP. I am looking forward to providing a family law service that will be second to none.”

JMP Solicitors are based in the centre of Grantham at Autumn Park Business Centre and offer free town centre parking for clients visiting their new offices.

To discuss your family law matters with Neil on a confidential basis please call him on direct line 01476 561 415 or contact him via email on nremnant@jmp-solicitors.com