Legal firm Aaron & Partners reports influx in enquiries from divorcing couples across the region 

Increase comes as Family Mediation Week takes place across the UK, raising awareness of the process helping ex-partners avoid court 

Divorcing parents across Shropshire are being urged to find out how to avoid courtroom confrontation in order to settle parenting arrangements and financial issues as divorce enquiries rise across the country. 

Legal firm Aaron & Partners has reported that, as in previous years, January has seen a “significant rise” in the number of parents deciding to live apart following the various pressures that go hand-in-hand with the Christmas period.

The increase comes as Family Mediation Week takes place across the UK, a week designed to raise awareness of the benefits of family mediation – a process that can help ex-partners agree what works for them, whilst avoiding the court process with all the stress, delay and cost it can bring.

Victoria Syvret, Family Partner and a trained Mediator at Shrewsbury-based Aaron & Partners, said: “Many parents emerge from the festive period feeling overwhelmed by the pressure that’s been put on their relationships and finances, which are always exacerbated during the holiday period.”

“We find many parents in this position simply don’t know which way to turn, and we’ve certainly seen a significant rise in enquiries over the past month. Making the decision to separate is a life-changing one that brings with it so many tough questions, such as who lives where; where will the children live, and how will money and assets be divided up.”

“Family Mediation Week shines a helpful spotlight on these tricky issues, offering separating parents information about their options as they look to make arrangements for parenting, property and finance.

“Family mediation is a process where an independent, professionally-trained mediator can help work these things out, enabling people to avoid courtroom confrontation. Professional mediators aim to help create long-term solutions for each particular set of circumstances, rather than leaving it to a court to make decisions for a family.”

Lawyer mediators can offer particular expertise throughout the process of separating families, combining our legal knowledge with the mediation process. Some solicitors, including Victoria, are hybrid trained and specially accredited to include children within mediation, enabling her to offer all forms of mediation processes to suit the needs of the clients in each case.

Anyone wanting to know more about the benefits of family mediation can visit the Aaron & Partners website here.