The Divorce Coach

Looking for help through divorce?

The One-Stop Divorce Workshop

Bank holiday weekends should see families enjoying days out together. If the picture has been altogether different for your clients (or anyone you know) over this weekend because they are looking for help with divorce, then we may be able to help at the One-Stop Divorce Workshop this coming weekend in London.

We have a couple of seats left - great value at £55 - at our One-Stop Divorce Workshop a half day workshop on Saturday 31 May in Hampton, Middlesex bringing together a number of divorce professionals to help attendees plan ahead for a best possible split. Magic wands are not guaranteed, an informal setting, a warm welcome and professional help are.

“High Court Judge warns family breakdown is as big a threat to national life as global warning.”

Family legal process in chaos -it's official

Far more members of the public are likely to be involved in the family justice system than any other part of the national court or justice system, according to Mr Justice Coleridge at the Resolution conference on 5 April 2008. These are mostly ordinary and frequently tax paying people who now find themselves caught up in family breakdown.

“…they turn to the system (which is paid for by their taxes) to find it overstretched to the point of collapse and acutely and chronically underfunded at all points. Delays are rife in every part of the system through lack of resources. And delay, as we all know, exacerbates all the problems and compounds the stress. And, just to make matter worse, the present substantive law of divorce, and financial division and the law relating to the property of unmarried couples (other than gay ones) administered by the courts is out of date, hardly fit for purpose and crying out for a thorough overhaul.'

Sobering words indeed but confirmation from top family lawyers that the family legal process is in chaos with the blame being firmly attached to the governments of the last 30 years. People who have experienced family breakdown - and those who have been close to people who have - won't be surprised. But what can they do to help themselves in an increasingly chaotic family justice system?

Mr Justice Coleridge proposed putting family breakdown and family justice at the top of the political agenda and deploying 'very significant resources of manpower and money' and making the reforms necessary to bring divorce law into the modern world.

What can the 150K couples per year who are experiencing family breakdown do to help themselves through such a difficult time, not to mention those who aren't married but have many of the same issues to confront and overcome? My advice would be:

* to read and learn as much as you can about what you’re about to go through so that you take control;
* speak to specialist relationship, child and divorce experts about all the issues which arise, don’t just expect your family lawyer to sort out all your problems;
* learn what your family lawyer and the family lega lprocess can and can’t do;
* be financially aware and realistic.

Read more about the High Court Judge Mr Justice Coleridge’s speech by clicking the link to Resolution's media page here.

Divorce 'Stories' for Journalists

Share your divorce story?

We are always sensitive to the fact that many people having a hard time in relationship breakdown will never want to 'go public' with their divorce stories for journalists and the media. But it is also a fact that many people, especially once they are on the other side, are happy to talk about their experiences. Often they see it as a way of helping fit pieces of the jigsaw into place, or to help others.

So this page is here for people who are happy to 'share' their divorce stories for whatever reason. It might be to help others; it might be to earn some money; it may be in revenge or to publicise a business. Whatever the reason, it is almost always therapeutic to get it out and down on paper and if you are in business, then the publicty may be welcome.

If you can help with any of these requests, contact us here: info@divorcecoaching.co.uk with brief details of how you may be a suitable case study and we shall pass the message on to the journalist concerned. If you would rather be put in direct contact with the journalist then we are happy to do that on request. The journalists we post here are liked and known to us and respected in the industry. We are happy to advise how you can best protect your position before you commit if you have any concerns.

Early May 2008: wanted for the Mail on Sunday by a reputed journalist - payment offered.

I'm a journalist writing a piece for You magazine in the Mail on Sunday about women whose partners lost their libidos as the women became more and more successful. I'm looking for a successful woman in her 30s or 40s who is divorced or seperated and experienced this in her marriage. You will be photographed and interviewed and paid for your time. Your story will be treated with the utmost respect and sensitivity.

The journalist is a former health editor on a respected magazine before going freelance. She is highly experienced at covering emotional and sexual health features.