header-logo header-logo

18 September 2019
Issue: 7856 / Categories: Legal News , Divorce , Family , Legal services
printer mail-detail

Divorcees do it themselves

Nearly one third of individuals involved in a divorce or civil partnership dissolution dealt with the proceedings themselves from start to finish, consumer research shows.

The Family Law Consumer Research Report, published this week by IRN Research (also known as Orchard Reports) is based on responses from 304 adults involved in a divorce/dissolution in the past five years.

One in ten individuals started proceedings themselves but then used a solicitor or law firm to complete the process. The majority paid for their advice under a fixed fee arrangement but only half of these actually paid the fee at the end that they were quoted at the start. Most faced higher fees.

Most people found their legal adviser through recommendations from others, but 21% used search engines to find their lawyer. The overwhelming majority of clients said they found face-to-face contact with a legal adviser important when going through divorce or dissolution proceedings.

Issue: 7856 / Categories: Legal News , Divorce , Family , Legal services
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
The government will aim to pass legislation banning leasehold for new flats and capping ground rent, introducing non-compulsory digital ID and creating a ‘duty of candour’ for public servants (also known as the Hillsborough law) in the next Parliament

An Italian financier has lost his bid to block his Australian wife from filing divorce papers in England on the basis it was no longer her domicile of choice

Reforms to the disclosure regime in the business and property courts have not achieved their objectives, lawyers have warned
The Law Society has urged ministers to hold a public consultation on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the justice system as a whole
Ministers have proposed bringing inquest work under a single fee scheme for legal help and advocacy legal aid work
back-to-top-scroll