10 Nov 2025
Recognising Good Divorce Week | Supporting Families Through Change
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Each year, Good Divorce Week provides an opportunity to shine a light on how separating couples can approach divorce and family breakdown with dignity, respect, and care. This national awareness campaign, run by Resolution, promotes a constructive, child-focused approach to family law that reduces conflict and helps families move forward positively.
At Hegarty, our Family Law team is proud to support Good Divorce Week and to share how our solicitors, who are all committed to Resolution’s Code of Practice, help clients through separation and divorce with understanding, integrity, and professionalism.
Written by Benjamin Parker
Resolution is a UK-based membership organisation for professionals working in family law and family justice. Founded in 1982 (originally as the Solicitors’ Family Law Association), it now represents over 6,500 members across England and Wales, including solicitors, mediators, barristers, and collaborative practitioners.
Members of Resolution follow a Code of Practice that emphasises a constructive, non-adversarial approach, putting the needs of the whole family and especially children first. The organisation provides ongoing training, accreditation, and resources to help professionals deliver the highest standards in family law.
Choosing a solicitor who is a Resolution member means choosing a professional committed to fairness, respect, and cooperation. It ensures your family law matter is handled in a way that aims to reach agreement without unnecessary conflict or delay.
Written by Emma McGrath
Using a Resolution solicitor for family law matters means your case will be managed in a constructive and non-confrontational way, often resulting in a faster, less expensive, and less stressful experience.
The benefits include:
A Resolution solicitor aims to protect your family’s long-term wellbeing, helping to make the separation process as calm and dignified as possible.
Written by Pavinder Khela
Resolution members commit to ongoing professional development through specialist training and accreditation programmes. These accreditations ensure solicitors remain at the forefront of family law practice and can provide clients with expert advice across areas such as financial remedies, children matters, and mediation.
By working with a Resolution-trained lawyer, clients can be confident that their solicitor is dedicated to best practice, continuing education, and maintaining the highest professional standards.
Written by Kelly Trevett
Resolution campaigns tirelessly to improve family law and the experiences of those going through relationship breakdowns. This year’s Good Divorce Week (commencing the 10th of November 2025) highlights delays within the family court system and the importance of early legal advice.
With over 1,000 new family cases filed every working day, the strain on the court system continues to grow. Resolution advocates for early access to legal information to help couples resolve disputes more quickly and with less conflict.
Over the years, Resolution’s work has led to significant legal reforms, including the introduction of No-Fault Divorce in April 2022, which removed the need to assign blame when ending a marriage. The organisation also campaigns for cohabitation law reform, seeking better legal protection for couples who live together without marrying, and continues to research the effects of domestic abuse on financial proceedings.
Written by Sarah Chapman
At Hegarty, we believe that divorce and separation do not have to mean conflict. As a Resolution Student Member, I follow their Code of Practice, which promotes respect, communication, and a focus on the child’s wellbeing above all else.
Divorce and separation can be an emotional and uncertain time for families. However, by taking a constructive approach, we help parents prioritise their children’s needs and reduce unnecessary stress. Resolution’s ethos ensures that all discussions and decisions are made with sensitivity and fairness, aiming to create long-term, practical arrangements that truly work for each family away from Court.
Our team supports and guides parents through the process, encouraging open dialogue and cooperation wherever possible. We can assist in drafting detailed parenting plans that set out how both parents will share responsibilities and spend time with their children. These plans help families avoid misunderstandings and give children a sense of stability and security.
In cases where parents cannot reach agreement, we can help them apply for a Child Arrangements Order. This determines where the child will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. If court involvement becomes necessary, we ensure that the child’s best interests remain the central focus of any decision.
By putting children’s emotional wellbeing at the forefront, we help parents find practical, dignified solutions that allow families to move forward positively. At Hegarty, our approach ensures that children feel secure and supported during a difficult time.
Written by Chris Brown
Collaborative Law offers separating couples an alternative to traditional court proceedings by focusing on cooperation, communication, and mutual respect. Instead of exchanging lengthy legal correspondence or engaging in confrontational litigation, both parties work together with their own collaboratively trained solicitors in a series of structured meetings.
From the outset, all participants commit in writing to resolving matters without going to court, helping to set a positive tone and shared goal from the very beginning.
The main benefits of collaborative law include:
By choosing the collaborative law route, couples can reach fair, lasting agreements while maintaining a positive and respectful relationship, something especially important for those with children. It’s a forward-looking approach that puts families, not conflict, at the heart of the separation process.
Written by Lesley Knight
Since the divorce law changes in April 2022, the process of ending a marriage has become more straightforward, with No-Fault Divorce removing the need to assign blame.
Below are my top practical tips to help guide you through the divorce process efficiently and calmly.
| Stage | What to Do | Key Details & Insights |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Apply Online | Visit the official GOV.UK “Apply for divorce online” page. | The online application is simpler, quicker, and reduces paperwork errors - ideal for couples beginning the divorce process in the UK. |
| 2. Pay the Court Fee | The standard fee is £612. | If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you may be eligible for Help with Fees by completing Form EX160 through the court website. |
| 3. No-Fault Divorce | Simply state that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. | This change encourages a calmer, non-confrontational approach and supports the ethos of a “good divorce” by removing the need to assign blame. |
| 4. Address Financial Matters | Apply for a Financial Order (Consent Order) once financial agreements are reached. | The divorce itself does not divide assets. A Financial Order ensures you are no longer financially tied to your spouse and protects you from future claims. |
| 5. Consider Mediation | Try mediation before applying to court for a Financial Order. | Mediation is faster, cheaper, and helps keep communication civil. However, if domestic abuse has been involved, mediation is not required. |
| 6. Prepare Financial Disclosure | Gather essential documents such as bank statements, mortgage statements, pension values, and budgets. | Financial transparency helps both parties reach an agreement efficiently and ensures the process remains fair. |
| 7. Take Care of Your Emotional Health | Divorce can be emotionally challenging - build a support network of friends, family, or professionals. | Looking after your mental wellbeing is as important as resolving financial and legal issues during a divorce or separation. |
| 8. Prepare Before You Start | Make sure you have your Marriage Certificate and decide whether to make a sole or joint application. | Preparing early prevents delays and ensures your application progresses smoothly through the court system. |
| 9. Follow the Court Process | Once your application is submitted, wait for the 20-week reflection period, then apply for a Conditional Order and later a Final Order. | The Final Order legally ends your marriage. It’s best to ensure financial matters are fully resolved before applying for it. |
| 10. Seek Legal Advice | Contact an experienced family law solicitor at Hegarty. | A professional can ensure all legal documents are in order and help you achieve a fair, stress-free resolution to your divorce. |
Stage:
1. Apply Online
What to Do:
Visit the official GOV.UK “Apply for divorce online” page.
Key Details & Insights:
The online application is simpler, quicker, and reduces paperwork errors - ideal for couples beginning the divorce process in the UK.
Stage:
2. Pay the Court Fee
What to Do:
The standard fee is £612.
Key Details & Insights:
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you may be eligible for Help with Fees by completing Form EX160 through the court website.
Stage:
3. No-Fault Divorce
What to Do:
Simply state that your marriage has irretrievably broken down.
Key Details & Insights:
This change encourages a calmer, non-confrontational approach and supports the ethos of a “good divorce” by removing the need to assign blame.
Stage:
4. Address Financial Matters
What to Do:
Apply for a Financial Order (Consent Order) once financial agreements are reached.
Key Details & Insights:
The divorce itself does not divide assets. A Financial Order ensures you are no longer financially tied to your spouse and protects you from future claims.
Stage:
5. Consider Mediation
What to Do:
Try mediation before applying to court for a Financial Order.
Key Details & Insights:
Mediation is faster, cheaper, and helps keep communication civil. However, if domestic abuse has been involved, mediation is not required.
Stage:
6. Prepare Financial Disclosure
What to Do:
Gather essential documents such as bank statements, mortgage statements, pension values, and budgets.
Key Details & Insights:
Financial transparency helps both parties reach an agreement efficiently and ensures the process remains fair.
Stage:
7. Take Care of Your Emotional Health
What to Do:
Divorce can be emotionally challenging - build a support network of friends, family, or professionals.
Key Details & Insights:
Looking after your mental wellbeing is as important as resolving financial and legal issues during a divorce or separation.
Stage:
8. Prepare Before You Start
What to Do:
Make sure you have your Marriage Certificate and decide whether to make a sole or joint application.
Key Details & Insights:
Preparing early prevents delays and ensures your application progresses smoothly through the court system.
Stage:
9. Follow the Court Process
What to Do:
Once your application is submitted, wait for the 20-week reflection period, then apply for a Conditional Order and later a Final Order.
Key Details & Insights:
The Final Order legally ends your marriage. It’s best to ensure financial matters are fully resolved before applying for it.
Stage:
10. Seek Legal Advice
What to Do:
Contact an experienced family law solicitor at Hegarty.
Key Details & Insights:
A professional can ensure all legal documents are in order and help you achieve a fair, stress-free resolution to your divorce.
At Hegarty, our experienced Family Law team provides clear, compassionate advice on every aspect of relationship breakdown, from divorce and financial settlements to child arrangements and mediation.
As proud members of Resolution, we are dedicated to helping families find a better way forward. Whether through collaborative law, negotiation, or court representation, when necessary, our solicitors are here to support you at every stage.
Good Divorce Week reminds us that while separation is never easy, it doesn’t have to be destructive. With the right legal guidance and a focus on cooperation, families can emerge from this process stronger and ready to begin new chapters.
If you’d like to speak to one of our friendly family law solicitors, please contact Hegarty today. We’re here to help you make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Whatever legal support you need, our experienced and highly skilled solicitors and legal advisors are here to help. With expertise across a wide range of legal areas, we provide clear, practical advice tailored to you. What sets us apart is our commitment to understanding your needs and delivering the best possible outcome with a personal touch.
