Our specialist family law firm – which has offices in Leeds, Harrogate and York – has marked further expansion by boosting the expertise of our Children’s Department.  

Solicitor Laura Walsh has amassed over 13 years’ experience in private and public children law matters which includes representing parents, children and family members in public law proceedings brought by local authorities.

Laura is a member of the Law Society’s Children Law and Family Law Advanced accreditation scheme. We’re delighted with the positive response the expansion development has received across the media.    

Headed by Kate Banerjee – who has Higher Court Rights and is a member of the International Child Abduction and Custody Unit – our nine-strong children’s team jointly combines over eight decades of expertise.

Attracting complex and varied casework in the UK and overseas, the department’s specialist knowledge spans private law residence, contact and adoption as well as special guardianship, relocation and public law cases. 

Says Kate: “Attracting top talent remains a priority as the volume of instructions from our clients, who are based regionally nationally and internationally, continues to increase. Laura has earned a strong reputation in children law and child protection and highly complements our team’s extensive expertise.”   

Key developments across 2019 have included our firm launching an office in York with a three-strong team headed by partner Nicki Mitchell, an expert in the financial aspects of relationship breakdown and particularly complex cases involving family businesses, multiple properties and complicated pension arrangements.

Consistently ranked in a joint Top Tier position by the Legal 500 and Chambers guides alongside national practices, we have also expanded our Harrogate office.

The only family law practice in Leeds with our own specialist in-house counsel, Jones Myers is also ranked for the second consecutive year in the eprivate Top Family Law Firms national guide which recognises and promotes excellence and best practice in the sector.

For queries on family law call our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104 or our York office on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @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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Choosing a collaborative solicitor – a lawyer who is trained to help reach divorce settlements without going to court – means that issues, including finances and children, are likely to be settled in a more consultative way.

With the government pressing for an increase in out of court options for divorce and family matters, it makes sound economic sense for couples to undergo this process – which promotes a ‘children first’ approach. It also ensures that the lawyers representing them remain on the same page – even if the couples themselves are at loggerheads.

Collaborative family lawyers communicate effectively to break down barriers to reach a settlement – regardless of any animosity clients feel towards their exes. This can speed up the divorce process, and possibly reduce the costs, with the couple both feeling more in control of their own destinies.

How do I find a collaborative divorce lawyer?

The Leeds Collaborative Lawyers Practice, Organisational and Development Group (POD) is a good place to start.  It comprises of collaboratively trained lawyers – including members of the Jones Myers team – and other professionals such as IFAs, forensic accountants, mediators and life coaches, who share an interest in promoting the good practice of collaborative law.

Details of collaborative lawyers are also available from Resolution, an organisation for divorce solicitors who takea constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters. CFL North is useful for finding collaborative family lawyers in the north of England – you’ll find several lawyers from Jones Myers on the website.

How do I persuade my ex to use a collaborative lawyer too?

We advise clients who are interested in the collaborative approach to encourage their former partner to review the above information and links to see how it works and what the benefits can be.

Emphasising the “children first” approach can be helpful. Likewise, a trusted family friend, financial adviser, or accountant could persuade your partner that having solicitors with similar values may make the divorce process simpler.

If both parties use collaborative lawyers is there a much better chance of avoiding court?

By definition the collaborative process is one that avoids court. If there is a non-collaborative case, where for some valid reason the collaborative process may not be appropriate – perhaps there is a lack of trust between the parties or there may be mental health/domestic abuse issues involving two collaboratively trained lawyers, it is likely their approach will be similar, civilised, constructive and solution driven, as opposed to lawyers who think litigation first, and talk second.

Are there any instances when it wouldn’t make any difference for both lawyers to be collaborative?

If both parties are hell bent on going to court, it will still be a more constructive experience if both lawyers are collaborative – even if their clients are not.

If there are complex financial assets or complicated issues relating to children, is it still best for both parties to have a collaborative lawyer?

Sometimes the complexity of the issue, or the nature of the people involved, will need a third party to make a decision.  This could be a Judge or an Arbitrator – but this should not mean that the lawyers have to behave aggressively. There is more chance of avoiding this problem if the lawyers are collaboratively trained.

What happens if my ex doesn’t use a collaborative lawyer – or even a lawyer who isn’t a specialist in divorce?

This does happen, although it is rare these days to come across a solicitor who is not a family law specialist.  At Jones Myers we always start the communication process assuming it will proceed in a constructive manner and that both parties are seeking a mutually agreeable solution.

Do you want to know more about collaborative family lawyers, or do you have any questions about separation or divorce?  Please, drop us an e-mail You can follow us on Twitter @helpwithdivorce

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Ms Blacklaws’ appointment came about after the troubled organisation set up a family law practice when it was decreed that businesses, including banks and supermarkets, could be licensed to offer legal services.

I have always had my doubts about this and whilst Ms Blacklaws remains tight-lipped about her reasons for leaving the service she spearheaded, how likely is it that anyone will seriously look to ‘purchase’ a divorce while doing the weekly shop?

The legal shake-up that heralded the Co-op’s family law service – and ironically dubbed the Tesco law – adopted an IT conveyor belt approach with the size and sheer volume of cases keeping prices down.

A cheap divorce can seem tempting – particularly as many families throughout the UK have had to tighten their belts and cut costs.  However, as the old adage goes, “you get what you pay for”.

The pile them high, sell them cheap approach may work for baked beans, but can it really be the answer for couples who find that their marriage has fallen apart? Complex financial issues, disagreements about where children will live and pension arrangements will all require a more tailored and measured solution.

Our own clients come to us because they want a bespoke service and to talk to an expert who will listen and offer solutions that work for their particular situation.  A solicitor who is a member of Resolution, the organisation for family lawyers committed to non-confrontational approaches to divorce, is very much alive to the needs of an individual client – not taking a ‘one size fits all approach’.

And new legislation coming into force on April 22 will add a new layer of complexity to divorce as it brings sweeping changes to the family law system.  As experienced family lawyers we are examining the finer details of the new bill and the implications for couples embarking on separation and divorce.

We have written several blogs about the Children and Families Act. Among the changes to the law is the creation of one single family court, Child Arrangement Orders to replace residency and contact orders and the introduction of compulsory Mediation Information Assessment Meetings (MIAMs).

With the demise of legal aid for most family law matters, we know how important it is for people to keep down the cost of divorce – and an ‘off the shelf’ option may seem tempting.  However, any good family lawyer will work with the client to manage costs and direct him or her to the most appropriate divorce option – whether mediation, collaboration, arbitration or simply good old-fashioned negotiation.

If you have any questions about the Children’s and Families Bill please call us on 0113 246 0055, leave us a comment below or drop us an e-mail.

You can follow us on Twitter @helpwithdivorce

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