Woolley & Co to sponsor the Divorce Show
Jun 17 2009 by Tom Scotney, Birmingham Post
Family law specialists Woolley & Co are set to sponsor the Divorce Show.
The show, being held at the NEC in September, is the largest event of its kind in the UK and features experts – many from Woolley & Co – answering questions about how couples can deal with a relationship breaking down.
Andrew Woolley, managing partner of the Stratford-upon-Avon firm, said: “There is a great deal of misunderstanding around family law.
“When relationships break down, you cannot rely on hearsay and second-hand information.
“Every situation is different and the show will give people an opportunity to get the facts about their individual cases from Woolley & Co’s plain-speaking experts.”
The firm, which has 15 offices nationwide, will be taking an exhibition stand and will be sponsoring the entrance to the show.
It will also have its own consultation area where visitors will be able to benefit from an initial half-hour consultation free of charge.
Launched by Midlands couple Catherine Castle and Bryan Powell, who have themselves been through divorce from their respective partners, the Divorce Show 2009 aims to help with any aspect of divorce or separation.
“It will help in a wide range of situations, from those simply questioning their marital status or wanting to repair a relationship breakdown to those initiating divorce proceedings or beginning life again after legal separation,” said Ms Castle.
“With approximately 140,000 divorces each year, and the process lasting anything up to five years, we are talking about a figure in excess of two million people involved in relationship breakdown. We want people to leave the show feeling that they can now cope better with their individual situations. Having Woolley & Co on board will certainly help us achieve that.”
The Divorce Show runs from September 11-13.
Meanwhile, the economic downturn may make a clean separation easier to carry out, one Midlands law firm has said.
Coventry and Warwickshire solicitors Alsters Kelley said falling house prices can allow couples who have come to the conclusion they are better off apart to achieve the clean break they seek.
Family department partner Adrian Bannister said that as the property price goes down, so does the lump sum either party needs to buy the other out of the family home. Provided the partner seeking to buy the other out is working, then getting a mortgage should be possible.
Although the equity the parties hold in the house may have fallen, so does the sum needed by either one to buy up the outstanding share so, in cash terms, the amounts actually fall.
He said: “We are not encouraging anyone to get a divorce because of the current circumstances but the last thing we want is for people to feel forced to stay together in unsuitable or even dangerous domestic situations. That is particularly the case when children are in the equation.
“There is, naturally, a temptation to wait until things look up again but that should be resisted. Provided that the people involved – and those representing them – are realistic about the relevant issues and are both capable and determined to reach a settlement, then such settlements can be reached.”
