An enormous ‘thank you’ to everyone who attended Jones Myers’ official opening celebration of our new premises in York’s historic city.

Colleagues, clients, and business partners enjoyed seeing at first hand our 2,200 sq. ft offices at The Quadrant, Bootham Row, near Bootham Bar’s historic medieval walls.   

The move to a bigger city centre building to accommodate our growth is receiving great feedback about its relaxing ambiance and office layout.

Our York office is headed by partner Nicki Mitchell – who has nearly 30 years’ experience in family law and was York’s first qualified collaborative family lawyer. Nicki is also a family law mediator and a child inclusive mediator.

Praised by the latest Legal 500 guide as ‘a highly regarded mediator’, Nicki specialises in the financial aspects of relationship breakdown and particularly complex cases involving family businesses, multiple properties, and complicated pension arrangements. 

Nicki is also a champion of Alternative Dispute Resolution processes which avoid a lengthy court process and can lead much more quickly and cost effectively to a successful resolution.

York team members include Solicitor, Lilly Grant, whose specialisms span divorce and separation, financial settlements, and arrangements for children.

Senior Family Law Executive, Anna Sutcliffe, has extensive expertise in the above areas and is experienced in domestic abuse cases. Supporting the team is Legal Assistant Lynne Richards who brings over two decades of experience in family law.

Said Nicki: “2022 is a pivotal year for Jones Myers as we mark our 30^th anniversary. We are extremely proud of our state-of-the-art offices and the upbeat reaction we continue to receive is wonderful.

“The extensive expertise and top teamwork of our family lawyers across our York, Leeds and Harrogate offices ensure we consistently deliver an outstanding service to our growing client base in the North and beyond.”    

Achieving top tier rankings in legal guides for over two decades, Jones Myers specialist lawyers and in-house counsel are based across the firm’s Financial Remedies Department and Children’s Department.   They are widely acknowledged as leaders in their field.

For divorce or family law related issues including children and finance, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked ninth in the UK’s Best 25 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2022.

Pictured left to right is Anna Sutcliffe, Lynne Richards, Lilly Grant, and Nicki Mitchell.  

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Our niche family law firm has retained our joint Tier 1 ranking in the acclaimed Legal 500 rankings which applauds our lawyers’ extensive expertise.

Covering the geographical areas of Leeds, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, the guide highlights our expansion with the opening of our York office in mid 2019 and the appointment of partner and practice head Nicki Mitchell.

Nicki, a skilled mediator and the first family lawyer in York to qualify as a collaborative family lawyer, has extensive experience in financial remedy cases with claims involving business assets, multiple properties and complex pension issues.

Jones Myers director, Richard Peaker, is named as a Leading Individual and likewise lauded for his experience in financial remedies, wide client base and close relationships with financial advisors.

Partner Kate Banerjee – also a Leading Individual – heads our Children Department which handles child abduction matters, cross-border adoptions and a growing number of Court of Protection cases.  

More of our lawyers – whose expertise jointly combines almost 300 years’ legal experience – are named as leading individuals year-on-year in both the Legal 500 and Chambers guides compared to any other family law specialist in Yorkshire.

The only family law practice in Leeds with our own specialist in-house counsel, we also have extensive expertise in the alternative dispute resolution processes of Mediation, Collaborative Law and Arbitration – which avoid a lengthy court process and can lead much more quickly and cost effectively to a successful resolution.

The Legal 500 rankings are based on interviews with clients and peers. Below are some testimonials which re-enforce our reputation as leaders in our field.

What Our Clients Say 

“…They are the best collaborative divorce lawyers I know. They stand out for me as a firm and as individuals by the way they are with their clients. They have the rare skills of making complex issues easily understood, of encouraging clients to express their emotions whilst not being derailed by them, of listening and being fair to everyone whilst not compromising on their values. I love working with them.”    

“A dedicated team with considerable expertise in their field. Of all staff I would say their thorough and knowledgeable approach to complex issues is impressive. Supportive of each other, and of their clients,  they work well together as a team. As a team they can deliver on all aspects of representation, including complex advocacy.”   

“I have worked with members of the Jones Myers team for over 10 years in my role as a Family Court Advisor and Children’s Guardian. The quality and clarity of the legal advice is consistently very good. Response is always prompt and the solicitors are supported by excellent paralegal and administrative staff.”

 “The family team is York and Leeds are fantastic. They work together really well and are certainly one of the most joined-up firms we deal with”

Said Nicki Mitchell: “Achieving this top ranking for another year is testimony to the commitment and high calibre of our family lawyers across our offices in Leeds, Harrogate and York who consistently go the extra mile to advise and support our clients who include the vulnerable. We are proud and delighted with this recognition.”

For queries on divorce or family law related issues, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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Over the years China’s relentless manufacturing machine has seen us devouring it’s lengthy list of exports spanning textiles, toys, DVDs, body jewellery, mobile phones and food products.

So could the news that a Chinese married couple who were refused a divorce because they scored too highly on a judge’s relationship exam spark the introduction of similar tests in Britain to determine if those seeking a split really are incompatible?The Sichuan court’s first exam comprised questions ranging from wedding anniversaries, favourite foods, in-laws birthdays and reasons for wanting to divorce.

The court stipulates that both husband and wife must score less than 60 per cent to divorce. As the couple in question scored 80 and 86 points respectively, the judge refused to dissolve their marriage.

Whilst introducing written exams and acting as a relationship counsellor is outside of a court’s remit, many people reading the report will undoubtedly ask if this process might be a constructive way forward in this country?

In my opinion, courts are not the appropriate place to test relationships in this manner. There are many established and respected organisations where family relations can be explored in depth with the help of experts.

Although marriages can be “saved” going down this route, all too often the deterioration has gone too far before anyone realises how desperate the situation is. By then there is no turning back.

Rather than courts intervening, perhaps we should try to explain and educate couples into thinking through the state of their marriage – so that they can work out if their relationship can be saved.

Ultimately, splitting up remains a decision for the couple themselves and it cannot – nor should it – be delegated to the courts or any other organisation.

By all means seek advice from experts – be they mediators, family therapists or specialist family lawyers. However, at the end of the day, we all have to take responsibility for our own lives, unpalatable though that may be.

Before rushing headlong into breaking up, we would urge you to be absolutely sure that this life-changing decision is opening the door to a future which will give you happiness as opposed to one which is full of heartache and regret.

For more information about divorce or any aspect of family law, call Jones Myers at our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104, visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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The family law process of arbitration, which allows couples to reach a divorce settlement without the trauma of the courts, also brings privacy to the process.

As one of the first arbitrators in the country, when it was introduced in 2012, I am certain that it is a far better route than the trauma of daunting, lengthy, expensive court battles, which can also be highly visible.

The recent gagging order preventing media groups publishing financial details of Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton’s divorce raises the question of privacy at what is usually – even in the most amicable split – a sensitive time for both parties.

This is not a concern that occurs to most who embark on divorce, but there is a prospect of your private life and most intimate details being broadcast to the world. This is because, once you go court, some of the proceedings are placed in the public domain and the press are entitled to review and publish. They can also attend some of the hearing.

You may think that divorce reporting only applies to celebrity couples, but regional and national newspapers also devote many column inches to those of previously anonymous couples.

The splits of ‘ordinary’ people can be considered noteworthy enough to be served up for public consumption for several reasons: a salacious element; perceived wealth; accusations of an attempt to hide or offshore assets; or a link to a locally prominent business or individual.

This might not only be embarrassing and distressing for the couple themselves, but also their children, parents, business partners and other ‘stakeholders’.

You can apply for a gagging order but they are expensive with no guarantee of success. However, in arbitration the press would not be invited into the hearing. Consequently, they would have no information to report.

The family arbitrator, who is independent, rules on your finances and who should have what. Similar to a judge, they collect relevant facts and evidence and base their decision on this evidence – taking into account the views of both parties. The Award, is final and binding in both parties.

Arbitration is quicker and more efficient than court and meetings are arranged at the clients’ convenience and a mutually comfortable venue. It is worth investigating to keep the circumstances surrounding the split entirely veiled from public inspection.

As Columbian novelist and screenwriter Gabriel Garcia Marquez said: “All human beings have three lives: public, private and secret.”

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on divorce related issues, leave a comment below, call the team at Jones Myers on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce

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By Peter Jones, founder

Any responsible family lawyer will always advise clients seeking a divorce to think very carefully before taking any action. They will stress the importance of couples openly discussing their problems and seeking the support of agencies such as marriage guidance counsellors to see if the relationship can be saved.

In many situations, the intervention of a third party or support from family can help couples to determine whether to stay together or to separate.

The issue for many couples is one of procrastination, especially when it comes to the length of time it takes them to make the decision to separate, and also to tackle the thorny problem of finance.

It is not uncommon for people who are unhappy in their marriage to have an initial consultation with a solicitor, and then wait for several years before returning to take action. Such a course rarely helps anyone.

This is more often the case when only one half of the couple wants to leave a marriage. Even when both parties know that the relationship is over, they can be hesitant to voice the matter, concerned about the impact such an acknowledgement would have on the children, the family’s home life and their financial situation.

Putting off the inevitable rarely leads to resolution. Prolonging the decision to separate, especially over an extended period of time, can have unforeseen consequences – such as potentially unfavourable divorce law and family legislation changes; financial changes resulting from inheritances or increases in income, values of investments, pensions, property, and other assets, which may occur in the intervening years and which would increase the petitioner’s liability to their soon-to-be former partner. Do not forget, as the small print often states, “the value of investments may also go down as well as going up”.

Similar issues arise where couples have been apart for a lengthy period but have never legally resolved their financial issues. Where separated couples have not reached a legal agreement they may have less control over how their partner manages the marital assets. Such an extended separation also provides the opportunity for the warring spouses to hide marital assets and attempt to put them beyond reach of any future settlement.

In addition, where the separated couple are of different nationalities, an extended informal separation could afford one of the parties the time to move abroad – where the divorce laws may be very different, dramatically limiting awards of capital and maintenance – not to mention making issues regarding children particularly difficult.

So, when you really know the marriage is over, you need to face up to the reality and act.

At the very least, enter into a formal separation with a view to eventual divorce. While there is rarely a pressing need to rush things (in the absence of an abusive relationship or one partner emigrating), there are many risks to ‘just putting it off for another year’ – and the psychological toll is certainly one that cannot be overlooked.

As the saying goes ‘procrastination is the thief of time‘ – which is possibly our most precious asset of all.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on divorce related issues, leave a comment below, call the team at Jones Myers on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce

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The lack of Legal Aid for most family law matters means that couples now have to fund their own divorces. This has left unprecedented numbers of people representing themselves in family courts, even in complex cases.

We have written previously about our concerns that public funding cuts are leading to a two tier family law system.  Sound, professional support to guide couples through their separation and help them to resolve financial and children’s matters, should not be the preserve of the very rich and should be accessible and affordable for those who need it.

Divorce is a ‘distress purchase’ – that is an expense you haven’t budgeted for. So how do you fund a solicitor and the expenses associated with the process?  Here are five options which we recommend you discuss with your lawyer at a first meeting as some of these may not be appropriate or available:

1. Use savings or investments

If you have savings they may not be earning much interest so you could use them to pay for legal advice. You could also cash in ISAs or other investments; however do take independent financial advice regarding any such action and any potential tax consequences. If savings or investments are in joint names you may be able to reach agreement that certain funds be set aside to cover each party’s legal costs.

2. Find a firm that specialises in litigation funding

There are litigation funding firms throughout the UK who offer credit schemes to fund the cost of a lawyer and all costs associated with the divorce. If you don’t have savings, are unable to borrow the money from another source, or have a low credit score, then this could be an option – although rates of interest are likely to be on the high side. You can find out details from us or from an independent financial adviser (IFA). Resolution, the association that represents 6,500 collaborative family lawyers nationally, including Jones Myers, has recently launched an online option with one such company.

3. Use a Sears Tooth Agreement

Under a Sears Tooth Agreement you sign a deed to assign your financial settlement to your solicitor, who takes out their costs – including any court fees, third party costs and related expenses – before you receive your capital. This is not a popular option with law firms because of the potential risks involved because if you don’t receive the expected settlement they could be out of pocket.

4. Draw on loans and credit cards

A bank loan with a competitive interest rate can be an effective way to fund legal costs. However, a bank will check your credit rating and will want assurance that you can meet the monthly payments.  Funding your divorce on your credit card will incur high interest rates if you make minimum monthly payments – although this could be a solution in the short term or as a last resort. Some credit card companies offer 0% interest for six or nine months which is worth considering if a financial settlement is likely to be agreed in the same timescale as the interest free period.

5. Ask your family 

Although you may see turning to your nearest and dearest as a last resort because you are concerned about burdening them, a family member may be willing to help out with a loan until you receive your financial settlement. Be realistic and upfront about what you want – if you need £2,000 than say so at the outset, and spell out in writing that it is a loan and how – and when – you will pay them back.

You can keep costs down if you and your ex are both prepared to take a non-confrontational approach to your break-up.  Using collaborative lawyers will avoid court battles and the lawyers will steer you through your separation and divorce, helping you to reach agreements that suit you both.

If you have any concerns or questions about how to fund your divorce call us on 0113 246 0055, leave us a comment below or drop us an e-mail. You can also follow us on Twitter: @helpwithdivorce.

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