A leading group of family lawyers across the north have joined forces with a specialist Yorkshire-based divorce coach and independent financial adviser (IFA) to offer the first fixed fee collaborative divorce.
Dovetail Divorce Solutions is the brainchild of Leeds-based IFA Robert Cresswell of Gordian Financial Services, and Wakefield-based coach Clare Walters of Absolute Specialists.
Both are firm believers in collaborative family law, where separating couples avoid court by working through the details of their separation together, with the help of specialist lawyers. Robert and Clare saw an opportunity to bring together a team of specialists to offer financial and emotional support alongside legal advice to help people through separation and divorce, offering clarity on costs at what is an incredibly difficult time.
As well as providing clients with specialist support, Dovetail Divorce Solutions provides an online cost calculator, where clients can input details of their circumstances and the cost of their divorce is calculated instantly. They are able to select a lawyer from the list of participating firms and then at an initial meeting, the fixed fee is confirmed.
An agreed number of collaborative meetings is included in the fixed fee enabling a divorcing couple to reach a fair and lasting settlement over key issues such as childcare and finance. Their specialist collaboratively trained lawyers are on hand to advise them throughout the process, so that the couple can separate in the most constructive way possible for their own benefit and particularly for any children involved.
The IFA and divorce coach in the team provide additional support to address finances and ease the emotional turmoil in a constructive way to enable everyone to move on with their lives with a positive outlook.
IFA Robert Cresswell explains, “When a couple fight through a court-based divorce, no-one wins. The family’s wealth can ebb away to fund court battles and the bitterness can last a lifetime.
“Combining the collaborative approach to finding a solution without a fight, along with a clear pricing structure and a genuine fixed fee is a solution to suit everyone.”
Robert confirms that the fixed fee includes the cost of the entire support team: lawyer, IFA and divorce coach. It also covers all of the ‘add-ons’ that people find frustrating when they have already paid thousands of pounds, such as court fees and VAT. “With a Dovetail Divorce Solutions lawyer there are no nasty surprises waiting ahead just a single transaction price which is clear from the beginning,” he says.
The team also facilitates access to credit facilities to enable the cost to be spread where necessary, ensuring this new and innovative package is affordable to a wider range of people.
Clare Walters, Director at Absolute Specialists added, “I am delighted that this constructive and future-focused approach to divorce will now be more accessible. The process concentrates on what is really important and supports people to part amicably, whilst protecting the needs of their dependents.”
More information and the cost calculator can be found at www.dovetaildivorce.com
For more information about this story and Dovetail Divorce Solutions, contact Robert Cresswell on 0300 303 8222 or Clare Walters on 01484 866747.