http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/ en-gb Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:07:43 GMT http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Sex-Most-Common-Factor-in-Divorce.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Sex-Most-Common-Factor-in-Divorce.aspx Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:48:37 GMT Sex is the single most common contributing factor to divorce, according to a new survey. In 43 per cent of recent cases analysed by lawyers at family law specialist Woolley & Co, sex was directly tied to the reasons an individual wanted to divorce, including things like infidelity and unusual sexual preferences. Lifestyle issues were mentioned in 37 per cent of the 100 cases studied, covering work pressures, growing apart, cultural differences, illness and issues, like the arrival of a child or a child moving out of home. And the research showed that new technology like the internet and text messaging is increasingly being cited as a contributing factor in divorce – in around 11 per cent of cases. Anecdotal evidence suggests this is far more than five years ago. Woolley & Co, which recently published a second edition of its popular guide book Surviving Family Conflict and Divorce, has 11 lawyers working from home offices around the UK and 10 were asked to look back over their last 10 cases. Lawyers were asked to assess each case in the main problem areas – sex, lifestyle, money, personality and power. They were then asked to give the main reason, or reasons, for each of their cases. Among the specific issues cited for “sex” include perceptions of affairs or a run-away foreign bride. Cross dressing and using gay chat forums were also factors in cases. “Our results show very clearly that sex, in some form or other, is a major contributing factor in couples deciding to divorce,” said managing partner Andrew Woolley, who started Woolley & Co from his Stratford-upon-Avon base in 1996, doing away with town centre offices in favour of lawyers working remotely from home offices and making optimum use of the latest web-based technology to serve clients. “Lifestyle changes as well, whether it is a new job, the arrival or departure of children, or simply growing apart, was frequently a factor. “Things like domestic violence and bullying fell under the “power” heading and were present in 21 per cent of cases, with personality at 24 per cent and money 11 per cent. “The squeeze of the current economic climate is definitely starting to have an effect and we would expect to see the number involving money issues continue to rise. “In particular, couples who perhaps enquired about how they might go about splitting assets and selling a house earlier in the year have now come back, wanting to move things along very quickly. “It will be interesting to carry out another survey in 12 months and see if these figures have changed though. “What is definitely apparent is the fact that the internet and text messages are increasingly contributing factors in a relationship breakdown. It might be that one of the parties has got in touch with an old flame via a social networking site, or explicit text messages are being exchanged. So while new technology is helping people keep in touch more easily, it is also making it easier for people to stray.” Woolley & Co is an award-winning specialist family law firm. It has a reputation for innovation, flexibility and dealing in plain English, with fixed-fee services which can be purchased directly from the website www.family-lawfirm.co.uk, cutting down on the need for face-to-face meetings and ensuring charging is transparent. Woolley & Co has lawyers in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Wiltshire, Staffordshire, Dorset, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Norfolk and the West Midlands. Surviving Family Conflict and Divorce, can be ordered free by calling 0800 321 3832 or downloaded from this site for free. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Easy-Divorce-has-Left-Elderly-Lonely-and-Depressed.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Easy-Divorce-has-Left-Elderly-Lonely-and-Depressed.aspx Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:25:02 GMT A new report is suggesting that divorce and separation is affecting the mental health of millions of older people. The document from the Institute for Public Policy Research said isolation among the elderly is made worse by the rising number of break-ups and that the tendency of women to outlive their husbands is also contributing to depression and unhappiness. The findings echo studies carried out earlier this year which discovered divorce reforms at the end of the 1960s – trebling the number of divorces – are having a destructive impact on those now reaching old age. At Woolley & Co we have been conscious over many years of the increase in the number of divorces especially amongst the over 50s. In fact we’ve written before on the specific issues for older couples going through divorce. You can read our article Divorce and the Over 50s in the articles section. The triggers for divorce amongst this age group can be anything from the children leaving home, to a family crisis or a sudden realisation that the couple has nothing in common. This combined with the fact that women are generally able to have greater financial independence by returning to work after raising a family means that more women are in a position to initiate divorce proceedings. Divorce settlements for older couples can be far more complicated to agree as a result of pensions entitlements, property and saving accumulated over many years. It is essential to take detailed advice from a family law specialist before coming to any final agreement on finances, so that rights are secured. For advice on divorce and separation arrange a free half hour telephone appointment with Woolley & Co on 0800 3213832. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Gum-Tree--please-read.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Gum-Tree--please-read.aspx Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:56:01 GMT We have been made aware that someone has set up a gum tree account which links back to our website. They claim to be selling tickets under the name of Alison Hill, the name of one of our lawyers. Please be advised that the seller is not known to Woolley & Co and we have no knowledge of who has posted the gum tree notice. If you are thinking of buying from this seller we suggest that you DO NOT do so and that you report the seller to gum tree. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Looking-for-a-cheap-divorce-may-not-be-the-best-option.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Looking-for-a-cheap-divorce-may-not-be-the-best-option.aspx Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:28:51 GMT During the ‘credit crunch’ it might be tempting to look for a cheap divorce. It is easy enough to find plenty of law firms on the internet that will offer to deal with a divorce for what appears to be a bargain price. Before you think you have found a bargain however Woolley & Co recommend you go through this checklist: Who will be dealing with your case - will it be a fully qualified divorce lawyer or a trainee or unqualified clerk? What experience do they have of dealing with the division of assets in divorce cases, especially the complex issues surrounding the family house and pension funds? Do they listen carefully to what you want to achieve and are they able to explain the legal points in plian English? Do they make a premise to deal with correspondence quickly and make it easy for you to get hold of them - by providing direct email, telephone and mobile numbers? Are they members of the Law Society and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority? If not you will have little recourse in law if the advice they give is wrong. Do they offer transparent and fixed fees for ALL aspects of their service? Are they able to provide client testimonials - or arrange for one of their existing clients to explain the services they offer? If you can come up with positive answers on all of these questions - you've probably got a good deal but if you have any doubts do be careful. You only ever get one ‘shot’ at a divorce settlement, and you cannot appeal a Judge’s ruling because your chosen law firm got things wrong. Woolley & Co offer fixed fee services - including a fixed fee divorce for £1,190 which includes all Court fees and VAT. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Eyebrows-Raised-at-Virtual-Model.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/August-2008/Eyebrows-Raised-at-Virtual-Model.aspx Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:34:32 GMT When Andrew Woolley left a perfectly good law practice in 1996 to strike out on his own with a vision of a new type of solicitor’s firm, a few eyebrows were raised. But his determination to look at a different way of operating in a very traditional sector, embracing emerging technology to work smarter and faster, with a service built around the client, has really paid off. He remains managing partner of specialist family law firm Woolley & Co and is still on hand to advise but is now largely a non-fee-earning partner, instead devoting his time to running and growing the business and being very much in demand as an advisor and speaker on how to run a virtual business and the future for professional firms. “Because of my experience with Woolley & Co, I am seen in some quarters as an expert in things like virtual and e-business issues, as well as the future for the legal sector. It is very nice to be asked to speak at so many events and be involved with such a wide range of organisations,” said Stratford-upon-Avon-based Andrew, who has delivered workshops on running a modern professional services firm for accountancy and legal groups. “I often get asked for advice on these issues and am happy to help where I can.” Andrew has recently been asked to speak at the 2020 Lawyers’ Group annual conference for the second year running. Andrew, very much in demand on the speaking circuit due to his experience in running a law firm and harnessing e-commerce, will be speaking on running a modern day law firm at the event in Coventry in October. The 2020 Group is a leading UK membership organisation for professionals to share good practice. Andrew can be reached on 0800 3213832. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Starting-Over-Show.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Starting-Over-Show.aspx Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:15:39 GMT Family law specialists Woolley & Co will be among the exhibitors at the event dubbed the UK's first divorce fair which is to be staged to help parting couples make their break-ups as painless as possible. Solicitors, financial experts, mortgage advisers and health professionals will exhibit at the one-day event at Brighton Racecourse in Brighton, East Sussex, on October 11, 2008. Suzy Miller, producer of the Starting Over Show explains. “With the credit crunch starting to hit, quality professional advice and also a vision of a better future are more important than ever. That's why we have counsellors and life coaches as well as lawyers attending the show, including a workshop with the best selling author and speaker Nick Williams.” Brighton is an ideal first venue as it had over 15 million shoppers during 2007, and a 2.7% increase in footfall (Footfall, May 2007). Tourism alone brings in 8.5 million people, and the city and surrounding towns have a divorce rate well above the national average including impending civil partnership breakups. Similar divorce fairs are springing up in Europe – Switzerland is about to stage it's first later this year. The Economist (June 7-13) says that the credit crunch “looks far from over”. But despite rising food and fuel prices, and consumer confidence falling, “actual spending has not yet weakened to the same extent.” Senior Partner of Woolley & Co, Andrew Woolley said; "It's great to be involved in the Starting Over Show. We will be offering copies of our free Suviving Family Conflict and Divorce book as well as doing free initial case assessments for anyone who attends the show. "We expect to be advising as much on how to set out on the right track with a new relationship - protecting assets through pre-nuptial and living together agreements, as we do about sorting out the end of existing relationships - by way of divorce and financial settlement advice. "And for anyone who can't get to Brighton - they can book a free initial telephone assessment here on our website." http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Rise-in-expat-divorce.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Rise-in-expat-divorce.aspx Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:11:39 GMT The number of couples seeking advice on divorce after moving to another country has risen dramatically over the last 12 months. Family lawyers Woolley & Co have specialists in divorce across borders and is increasingly being called upon to act for clients. Enquiries are up around 30 per cent in the first six months of 2008 compared to a year ago. Around 170,000 couples each year get divorced "across borders" in the EU. It appears that, for some, a move abroad can be a last gasp attempt to save a relationship. Couples moving abroad should be made aware that, in the event of them deciding to divorce, the English courts can be used provided the couple were “domiciled” there. This is a complex legal concept which needs to be explained and explored in each case. We believe using the English courts where possible leads to a cheaper, quicker divorce with no unnecessary problems caused by language differences and, often, there can be a fairer settlement. However, EU regulations do dictate that the divorce should take place in the country where proceedings are first initiated – so a client needs to act quickly once they have made a final decision to ensure that they get their way. Anyone considering a split while living abroad should contact an experienced family lawyer to review their options. For all they know, their partner may have already done the same and so be one step ahead of them. For more details on expat divorce see links below. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Lessons-learned-from-the-McCartney-divorce.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Lessons-learned-from-the-McCartney-divorce.aspx Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:05:59 GMT The McCartney divorce, finalised in May 2008, threw up a wealth of legal topics for discussion. How important are pre-nups? Should they be legally binding? Should details be made public? And what is the benefit of representing yourself? Family lawyers Woolley & Co have repeatedly stated that more should be done to take the stigma away from pre-nups. With around 50 per cent of marriages failing, surely it makes sense for clients to protect themselves – especially those with business assets. In this instance, the judge damningly said he felt the ex-Mrs McCartney’s statements were unreliable whereas the former Beatle came across well. This may well have been different had she heeded counsel. Essentially, Heather went against the advice of her professional advisors. We have all seen it happen and know an individual who has come off worse as a result. This is a perfect case to illustrate the point and one that can perhaps be used as an example to clients in the future – though the amounts involved are unlikely to be as high! See links below for more details on prenuptial agreements. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Divorce-lawyers-prefer-not-to-go-to-Court.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Divorce-lawyers-prefer-not-to-go-to-Court.aspx Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:01:33 GMT A recent survey showed that nine out of ten family lawyers supported a move to leave divorce courts out of divorce. Lawyers would prefer to see greater emphasis on a less confrontational and more collaborative approach where couples work together with their legal advisers – and in some cases external specialists – to reach an agreement without the need to enter a court room. Andrew Woolley, of family law firm Woolley and Co, commented: “We fully support this approach. Taking a case into a court room leads to spiralling costs for clients, drags the process out and does not guarantee an agreeable outcome for everyone anyway. “It can also be traumatic for all parties, especially if there are any children involved. “Sometimes there is an assumption from a client that to reach a fair financial settlement, or reach agreement over the children, they have to battle it out in court. TV and films could have a lot to answer for in that regard. ”Sitting down with their lawyer and stating what they reasonably would like, and keeping a civil relationship with their estranged spouse, so that they can come to an agreement without heading to court doesn’t make good entertainment. But it will make the process much less traumatic and no less fair.” The research was carried out by Grant Thornton who interviewed 100 family lawyers. Woolley & Co offer a fixed fee for a straight-forward uncontested divorce - more details via the link below. http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Legal-profession-is-not-mum-friendly.aspx http://www.Family-Lawfirm.co.uk/News/July-2008/Legal-profession-is-not-mum-friendly.aspx Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:56:09 GMT The legal profession is the least mum-friendly career for women wanting to return to work, it is claimed. A survey for the Training and Development Agency suggested mums thought a career in education was their best route back to employment after having children. None of the mums questioned said they believed the legal sector was an option for them. But Woolley & Co lawyer Alison Hill – mother of a young son – disagrees. “Woolley & Co is not like other law firms. There is much more flexibility for the clients – they don’t have to fit around the opening hours of a high street office for example. That makes working arrangements much more flexible for us lawyers too,” she said. “One of the reasons I chose to work with Woolley & Co was to work from a home office. It allows you to get a better work/life balance. I can arrange to speak to clients in the evening or at weekends if it suits them and meanwhile I am free to meet my family commitments when I need to.” “It’s a shame that more practices don’t operate this way.” Woolley & Co is recruiting family lawyers – mums welcome. For more details read the vacancies section on our website or contact Andrew Woolley.