Case Study

My partner and I don‘t want to use solicitors - is there any other way?

Our case studies are based on real situations but some details have been changed so our clients cannot be identified

Mr. and Mrs. X were involved in a dispute over the arrangements for
children and how they were going to divide their savings and the proceeds of the sale of their home. When we were consulted by Mrs X she was entitled to free legal advice funded by the LSC. Mrs X wanted to sort matters out between them in a way that enabled them to talk about the needs of the children in the future.

We referred the couple to mediation.

After only 3, 1 ½ hour sessions over about 2 months they managed to reach an agreement. Mrs X was entitled to free mediation funded by the LSC. Mr X‘s income meant that he had to pay for his share of the cost of the sessions but the overall cost to him came to only £528.75. This was significantly less than he would have had to pay if the matter had had to go to court to be sorted out.

We were able to turn the proposals the reached between them into a final order form the court that gave them both finality. The agreement they reached was one that they both felt was fair. They also felt that sorting it out in that way meant that they could get on with their lives and still be able to talk sensibly about the children.