A Leamington lawyer has become one of only a handful of experts in the town to qualify as a specialist in a non-confrontational method of divorce.
Tarsem Sangha, head of the family department at Hamilton Terrace-based law firm Seymours, has been accredited as a collaborative lawyer, specialising in a process aimed at minimising the emotional impact of family break up.
The system is an increasingly popular alternative to the costly 'mud-slinging practices' which end up in court and cause mental trauma to those involved, particularly children.
The collaborative process focuses on negotiation rather than confrontation. Each half of the couple appoints a specialised lawyer with all four parties meeting face to face. Additional experts such as financial advisers and counsellors can be involved where necessary.
Ms Sangha said: "While we can't eliminate marriage breakdown, we can do something to make the break up as emotionally manageable as possible.
"By agreeing from the beginning to carry out the divorce with dignity and respect – rather than in anger and for revenge - much of this can be minimised.
"It's not for everyone but anecdotally it seems using this more conciliatory approach means couples are able to begin the next phase of their lives with less emotional baggage and the children fare better than those whose parents fight tooth and nail throughout the break up."
She added: "On the whole, the process is less expensive than the traditional route which ends up in court and can drag on for ages by partners determined to get revenge, or by lawyers feeding on the anger of the so called 'wronged' party.Â
"It's not necessarily a cheap option, but is certainly less costly on the soul. In many cases, it is not the divorce that does so much harm to families, but the way people divorce."
