New Year Brings End To Many Relationships

Once Christmas is over and the New Year looms, it is often the case that people start to make resolutions as to how they are going to live their lives in the forthcoming new year and thereafter. Resolutions to lose weight, get fitter or a new different career path begin to formulate in people's minds.

Not surprisingly, many people also consider the state of their relationships, either their marriage or with their partner and many people take steps to end an unhappy relationship.

For family lawyers, January often sees the most number of new clients seeking advice on relationship breakdowns and possible divorce proceedings.

Many people go to lawyers in January and February to find out where they stand legally and what options are open to them, both giving them the information they need to make important life decisions about their relationships.

Unlike diets and fitness plans, people can often seem more determined to stick to the resolution to sort out their relationship.

The Family Law Team at Harrison Clark LLP offer the following tips to those who are considering seeking legal advice in the New Year:

• In choosing a lawyer, consider recommendations of friends together with local reputations.

• Also consider whether a family lawyer that you are considering consulting is a member of Resolution which promotes a constructive approach towards relationship breakdowns.

• Try ringing up a lawyer of your choice before having a meeting to see if they are welcoming, helpful and whether you feel able to talk to them openly about your problems. 'Rapport' is often the key to getting the advice and service that you want from your family lawyer.

• Never be afraid to address the issue of fees and overall costs in the first telephone call or at the first meeting. A good family lawyer should spell out quite clearly hourly rates, work to be done and likely costs. Going through any separation process is stressful and you should not have the additional stress of worrying about an unknown bill. Most good lawyers will also discuss with your how you can discharge bills, whether you will be entitled to any payments from your partner to assist with bills and whether the firm has any schemes or knows of any outside schemes to provide you with financial assistance.

• At a first meeting, with your lawyer, take a list of all the questions that worry you most. It can be daunting telling a third party about difficulties in your life and a list of questions will be a useful aide-memoir and will ensure that you come out of the meeting with all the information that you wanted to know. Do not be afraid to ask any questions, however, trivial you may think they are. If it is an issue that worries you then a good lawyer would be more than happy to provide you with reassurance and advice.

• Remember that your lawyer is there to take your instructions and to act on them. You should not feel judged or bullied by your lawyer in any way. If you are unhappy with your relationship with your lawyer then you can always change.

• Remember that some lawyers offer an initial fixed fee interview so that you are clear about the costs of taking some initial advice and within that interview, you can seek further advice about long term costs.

If, sadly, you are one of those people who are thinking about finding out where they stand in the new year, consider the above before choosing your lawyer. You should remember that family lawyers can advise on matters relating to children, property, divorce proceedings, civil partnership proceedings, injunction proceedings and financial issues generally. Family lawyers advise those who cohabit as well as those that are married and are experienced in resolving all sorts of problems in a relationship which can seem insoluble.

Lawyers given their experience in dealing with relationship breakdowns can often give practical guidance and make referrals to other agencies to ensure that their clients receive the support that they need at difficult times.

Visit Harrison-Clark.co.uk for more information.