Gibson Kerr

Edinburgh based family lawyer Fiona Rasmusen https://www.gibsonkerr.co.uk/ gives her five top tips on how to make your divorce less painful and less expensive - from getting support from a friend to using your lawyer wisely. For more tips, see Fiona's blog post https://www.gibsonkerr.co.uk/divorce-edinburgh/how-to-divorce-well-seven-top-tips/ Video transcript: Divorce can be a painful and expensive process. Here my top five tips on how to make your divorce less painful and less expensive. 1. Don’t go it alone Bring a trusted friend to your first meeting with your solicitor. You’ll gain emotional support and a second pair of ears. There’s a lot to take in at a first meeting and a friend can take on board the information more easily and can discuss it with you at length after the meeting. 2. Keep it business-like Many people who consult us say “everything is amicable and we want it to stay that way”. Sometimes this can work against clients who put the need for “amicableness” above everything else. Negotiations about money and property should be business-like, not necessarily amicable. You can both focus on building an amicable relationship once everything is settled. 3. Understand your partner’s situation Often you will have decided to end your marriage after thinking about it for many months or even years. You may have already psychologically left the marriage. The end of the marriage may come as a complete shock for your partner, who may still be committed to it. It is important to try to understand where your partner is in the process, and, if you can, to allow them time to come to terms with the end of the marriage. 4. Protect your children Significant and irreparable damage can be done to children if a divorce is bitter. If it can be achieved, a joint approach towards your children is desirable. It goes without saying that you should not try to manipulate your children against your spouse nor should you criticise your spouse to your children or within their earshot. The long-term losers will be your children. 5. Use your lawyer wisely Engage a family law specialist. Then, make any time your lawyer spends count – you’re paying for it. Don’t spend time with your solicitor detailing the many ways in which your spouse’s behaviour is unreasonable, and don’t fight over trivialities. Keep focused: your end goal is a financial settlement you can live with. Divorce brings change to both you and your children. We support many people through this emotional time. Contact us for further advice or help. Visit our website at https://www.gibsonkerr.co.uk or call our Head of Family Law, Fiona Rasmusen, on 0131 226 9161