Good Divorce Week is organised by Resolution to encourage families and family justice professionals, such as lawyers and mediators, to focus on the importance of reducing conflict during separation and divorce. It serves to be a reminder that whilst relationship breakdowns are painful, the process of ending a marriage or civil partnership does not have to make things worse.
What Is Resolution?
Resolution is a community of over 6,500 family justice professionals who are committed to a constructive, respectful approach to resolving family issues, considering the needs of the whole family.
Members of Resolution include solicitors, legal executives, barristers, family mediators, financial advisers, and other professionals, who believe in putting the needs of the whole family, and most notably children, first.
All of our family lawyers at Howell Jones Surrey solicitors are members of Resolution.
The Resolution Code of Practice
At the heart of Resolution’s ethos is its Code of Practice. These are a set of principles that guide how its members work with clients and other professionals in the Family Justice System.
The Code promotes:-
- Constructive Communication – avoiding inflammatory language and focusing on problem-solving
- Putting Children First – encouraging parents to prioritise their children’s needs above personal grievances
- Integrity and Respect – treating all parties with courtesy and fairness
- Negotiation and Mediation – exploring out-of-court options wherever possible to reduce stress and cost
- Transparency and Fairness – giving clients realistic advice and managing their expectations about outcomes
Why the Resolution Code of Practice Matters
Divorce and separation can be emotionally and financially draining. By adopting the Resolution approach and the Code of Practice, it can help couples to:-
- Maintain dignity and respect throughout the process
- Minimise conflict, reducing the emotional impact on children
- Save time and costs compared to drawn-out litigation
- Focus on long-term family wellbeing, not short-term “wins”
In practice, this means encouraging open dialogue, exploring non-court options like mediation, arbitration, private FDR’s, and collaborative law, and avoiding unnecessary confrontation in correspondence or negotiations.
A recent damming parliamentary report revealed that the average duration of private cases in the family court has increased from 26 weeks in 2018 to 41 weeks last year (a 36% increase). The family courts are experiencing significant delays and backlogs, with more than 1,000 new cases starting in the family courts each working day. It is therefore more important than ever for separating couples to be able to consider all of their options.
What Makes Resolution Members Different?
Their commitment to the Code of Practice – the backbone of everything that we do.
It guides us to work constructively, to avoid conflict where possible, and to focus on solutions that support families and children.
Good Divorce Week
Good Divorce Week is a chance to change the conversation around divorce. A “good” divorce does not mean it is painless. It means that it is handled with empathy, honesty, and a focus on the future rather than the past.
By following the Code of Practice, family lawyers and other professionals can help couples to separate with dignity, protect their children’s wellbeing and move forward positively.
If you’re going through a divorce or separation or you are considering your options, choosing a Resolution member can make a real difference. All of our family lawyers at Howell Jones are members of Resolution and adopt the Resolution Code of Practice. We are proud to support Resolution’s work promoting non-confrontational approaches to family separation. Contact our Surrey family law team on 0800 011 9813 to receive expert legal advice and support.
