‘Resolution Together is the same as mediation’

While Resolution Together has some similarities to mediation, it’s not a dispute resolution process. Those who are considering this service are often not in a dispute at all, which is why they are choosing to work together to achieve a common goal. Mediation is a way of bringing two conflicting parties together, but the mediator does not (and cannot) provide advice, rather they are there to facilitate and guide the discussions between you. Resolution Together involves the instructed lawyer advising you both and recommending other professionals such as financial advisors and tax specialists to provide tailored advice depending on your specific needs. The lawyer plays an active role in the process and helps build a team around you both to navigate your separation, which can include the use of dispute resolution services such as mediation, early neutral evaluation by a barrister and arbitration on discreet areas of dispute if appropriate.

“You must agree on everything”

Quite the opposite. It’s entirely natural for separating couples to disagree on things and while it’s true that Resolution Together is not suitable for those in active dispute or conflict, that is not to say they must be in total agreement with one another and there may be small bumps in the road. What is really key to the success of Resolution Together is for both of you to commit to working through any disagreements amicably, with mutual respect and a willingness to compromise. Your lawyer will help you work through the issues and bring in other professionals to help where needed.

“It’s the cheap option”

While engaging a single lawyer can be cheaper overall than instructing two separate legal teams between you, it’s a misconception that the service is the cheap option. Resolution Together is a unique service tailored to your needs and as such costs can vary significantly depending on your own circumstances. The process is however less expensive than contested court proceedings.

Can it be unsuitable?

Yes, in some situations this process is unlikely to be suitable. We invite you to flag if any of the below issues are present in any initial call to us so that our team can ensure you are given the most suitable initial meeting for your needs. There has been any form of abuse (current or historic). If there are any capacity concerns. There is a significant power imbalance that cannot be managed. There is a history of mental or emotional health or substance misuse with one or both of you. Either or both of you are unprepared to negotiate. You’re engaged in active conflict. One of you intends to, or believes the other may seek to ‘hide’ information. Where either of you feel under any duress or pressure to take part. If there is a clear need for court proceedings. In these circumstances, you will both need your own legal representation to ensure the appropriate advice can be provided about the options available. It’s not a means to attempt to alienate the other person, to hide information from them or to force a more vulnerable partner into an agreement. The joint solicitor must act in both of your interests and will be alive to such behaviours. Resolution Together may also not be suitable for parties with particularly complex assets such as those located overseas or businesses with intricate structures where the support of two lawyers is likely, either under the traditional model or using the collaborative process.

Can I still obtain my own legal advice?

Yes, absolutely. Both of the couple still have a right to seek their own independent legal advice if they feel disadvantaged at any point. An example of when this might be necessary is if a proposed agreement was potentially unfair to one party. You would then be advised to both seek independent advice to ensure that you were able to proceed. It’s also possible to involve a third party to comment on a discrete issue, if there was a disagreement between you.

How does it differ from collaborative law?

Unlike collaborative law, you only need one lawyer for this process. However, the two are very similar in terms of the overall objectives. There will be some situations where it appears from the outset that the support of a second lawyer might be more suitable for you as a couple depending on the issues to be navigated. For example, if there are more complex issues to address, or one person feels they would prefer the support of their own lawyer, but wishes to adopt the underlying principles of the process. We have a network of collaborative lawyers we work with so we can provide details of other collaborative lawyers to help if you and your partner decide to adopt a four-way approach at the outset instead.

What if I change my mind?

If we have only met with one of you and we discuss in the screening meeting that the process may not be suitable, we can proceed with providing you with advice in the usual way. If either of you decide you no longer wish to participate in Resolution Together, you can end the agreement. We can guide you to another service which may be more appropriate to reach a resolution. Your Resolution Together lawyer wouldn’t be able to act for either of you on an individual basis after commencing this process.

Is it legally binding?

Once you reach an agreement through this process, the lawyer will assist you with documenting your agreement into a court order which can be lodged with the court for approval by the judge to create a binding order and to assist you with any divorce process. If the issues relate to children, we can assist you with preparing a parenting plan which will set out a record of your mutual agreement, but this is always open to change as the needs of the children evolve.

How much does it cost?

Our initial screening interview lasts around 30 minutes and costs £250 per person plus VAT, £500 per couple plus VAT. In this initial meeting you will be provided with basic details about the process and we’ll assess whether the process may be right for you. Thereafter, we charge £450 per hour plus VAT for advising couples jointly. Following this initial meeting and information gathering, we will provide a detailed fee estimate based on your circumstances. The total costs depend on the number of issues which arise in your case and will vary between couples depending on the complexity of your finances or family structure and the issues involved.

Resolution Together – One Couple, One Lawyer

Our trained lawyers can help you navigate your separation as a couple as amicably as possible.

The Resolution Together, One Couple, One Lawyer method helps our team assist you and your partner together to find a resolution. This means you will not need to hire separate lawyers, promoting collaboration and communication between you and your partner. We’ll work with you to help you navigate your separation, to identify your mutual objectives and to engage any third parties we may need to help work towards a mutual agreement.

This service can support some couples who aim to reach an amicable resolution, with one lawyer supporting the couple. We’ll sit round a table with you both and help you navigate what is best for you and your family, supported by legal advice and any third party support.

The approach differs to more traditional practices because you jointly instruct one lawyer. This means you’ll both receive the same advice at the same time, which can reduce conflict and promote constructive, respectful discussions.

Benefits of the service:

You’ll focus on the best interests of the family rather than winning points or being overly positional.
It’s a non-adversarial process which should deliver an outcome that you each feel is fair.
It’s a time efficient process, you both choose when you meet and the issues you would like to focus on.
It encourages a cooperative approach and eliminates the feeling of competition.
It’s a great option for couples who want to work amicably, with dignity and who believe their differences can be resolved with some support, but are aligned in terms of your overall objective.

If you’re both willing to be open and honest with sharing all relevant financial and information, you’re emotionally ready to work together to solve problems and you both feel able to take part fully and freely then this may be the option for you. See the FAQs below for more details of when it may not be suitable.

How does it work?

If you think this might work for you, you will have an individual screening meeting with one of our Resolution Together lawyers. This screening meeting will identify if this is a suitable process for you on an individual basis first and to ascertain if you could engage in the Resolution Together process effectively or if there were any concerns. Your spouse or partner will then be invited to a separate screening meeting to run through the same process.

Once this assessment is complete, if the process is right for you, a retainer will be signed and you can begin to share any relevant financial or factual information. There will then be an initial joint meeting where it will be explained again what Resolution Together is and how it might work for you and you’ll be asked to sign an agreement which sets out the foundations of this unique process.

Further meetings will be tailored around the issues identified by you both as needing to be resolved. It’s in these meetings that we may also bring in other professionals to advise on specific points such as tax, pensions, financial advice, business or property valuations, coaches, family neutrals or independent social workers, a mediator or other experts. The discussions will be facilitated by your jointly instructed lawyer who will also be on hand to advise and answer questions.

Once you’ve reached a mutual agreement, the lawyer can advise on how to make this binding. This process can also potentially work well alongside mediation you’re undertaking elsewhere.

Myth busting