The media can now attend and report on divorces and on divorce settlement Court cases. I have blogged before about my worries over that.
I may have missed an important side effect.
It seems that more and more people are so worried about Press disclosure of their personal life and financial details that they are allowing their lawyers to negotiate settlements outside Court and which are then, normally, secret. Earl Spencer seems to be the latest, as reported in The Times.
That has to be good, does it not?
Certainly, it will keep the cost of divorce down. We have pushed for a long time to try for a negotiated settlement and avoid a Court hearing if possible by way of a separation agreement or a consent order. I'd prefer the desire for a negotiated divorce settlement to be inherent but maybe this "force" is for the good!
Would you agree a less favourable settlement to avoid the Press?
Andrew Woolley
Divorce Solicitor