Separate with One Lawyer

At The Family Law Company, we believe that divorce doesn’t have to be a battle. Traditional approaches with the wrong legal team can lead to high costs, stress, and unnecessary conflict. Our specialist divorce and separation lawyers have always championed a less confrontational approach being one of the first adopters of non-court dispute resolution, and we are proud to take this further with our Separate with One Lawyer service.

This One Lawyer, Two Clients model allows couples to work together—guided by a single legal professional—to reach a fair and efficient resolution, without going to court in most cases.

How it works

With one lawyer guiding you both, you can work towards an amicable and legally sound resolution. This approach allows you to:

• • Receive joint legal advice to make informed decisions together.

• • Reach agreements on finances, property, and child arrangements.

• • Have your agreements legally formalised and, where necessary, approved by the court.

• • Avoid the cost and stress of traditional legal routes.

Your lawyer will provide directive legal advice, explaining what a court would likely decide while allowing flexibility for you to reach a solution that works best for your family.

Why Choose One Lawyer Instead of Two?

The Benefits of theOne Lawyer, Two Clients Approach:

• • Cost-Effective – One lawyer instead of two means lower legal fees.

• • Efficient – Fewer delays, less back-and-forth, and a streamlined process.

• • Consistent Legal Advice – No conflicting opinions from separate lawyers.

• • Respectful and Cooperative – Encourages discussion, not confrontation.

• • Court-Free – In most cases, court attendance isn’t necessary.

• • Supportive of Your Needs – Other professionals (e.g., financial advisers, mediators) can be involved if beneficial.

When This May Not Be Suitable:

• • If one of you requires an individual lawyer to advocate solely on your behalf.

• • If there are safeguarding concerns regarding either party or children.

• • If conflict levels are too high for constructive discussions.

• • If there is an imbalance of power that cannot be managed.

• • If one party refuses to share full financial or factual information.

If these factors apply to your situation, mediation or separate legal representation may be a better alternative.

How this differs from Collaborative Law

Collaborative law follows a similar non-court approach but requires each spouse to have their own collaboratively trained lawyer. While both methods encourage reaching an agreement outside of court, collaborative law may be more suitable when one or both parties require additional individual support in negotiations.

Why the Courts now encourage Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR)

From April 2024, the courts require couples to attempt Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) before filing legal proceedings. This includes:

• • Mediation

• • Collaborative Law

• • Arbitration

• • The One Lawyer, Two Clients model

If either party refuses to engage in an NCDR method and proceeds with a court application, the court has the power to order both parties to attend an NCDR meeting and may even impose cost penalties or delay further hearings.

By choosing the Separate with One Lawyer approach, you are aligning with the court’s encouragement to resolve matters cooperatively