It is a personal story that, on the face of it, has little to do with family law and family life. However my client asked me if I would post it on my blog, because she thinks what I told her may also help people who are frightened of facing the future and giving up the way of life to which they have become accustomed, even though they have no choice.
Moving on after divorce is more easily said than done, and as a family lawyer I see many clients at different stages of this process. Getting divorced is a traumatic and stressful period for both parties, no matter who is at fault or why the marriage broke down. However, there is nothing more satisfying (other than getting a good deal!) than seeing a client move on from thinking their world is at an end, to a point where they can at least see light at the end of the tunnel. So I have enjoyed reading a post by an American blogger who is marking one year since her own divorce was finalised.
Sue Jenkinson is the Head of Law at Staffordshire University. She is also a divorcee, a successful businesswoman and a mother of three. After meeting Dr Jenkinson and hearing her inspiring story, I asked if she would contribute.
Sometimes, clients who come to see me are in a state of shock. Not everyone appreciates how serious this can be. Psychological shock is a traumatic reaction following a dramatic, unexpected incident such as a family crisis.
The Black Knight is one of the most famous characters in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Charged with guarding a small bridge, the knight is on a power trip, losing limb after limb to prevent King Arthur from passing. Eventually he loses them …
It is frequently the case that the tearful woman who comes to see me for her first appointment has lost her strength and self-confidence. As her case progresses, however, the client undergoes a …
Divorce is not an event that can be recovered from in minutes, weeks or months. I was thinking about this as I travelled 200 miles back to the north of England after my appearance on GMTV earlier this week. The near blizzard conditions made it a lengthy and eventful journey. Fortunately my trusty driver, Garry Houseman of CSC Executive (who I can’t recommend highly enough), got me home safely. …
I recently watched an incredibly personal interview with the band Fleetwood Mac on the BBC, in advance of their forthcoming British tour. The band members are clearly older and wiser than they were in the late 1970s. They had stories to tell about the emotional turbulence in their lives when arguably they were at the height of their success. It made fascinating viewing for me, a fan who keeps …
This is the third post in a new series about coping with divorce. I have previously described how important it is to keep your mind healthy when you are getting divorced, but what about your …
In the last post about coping with divorce, I wrote about how distressing the divorce process can be and how, to emerge whole at the other side, it is vitally important to do whatever it takes to …
How do I help clients to cope with divorce? Although my remit is legal, I consider my clients’ wellbeing to be extremely important. There are depressing studies which show correlations between divorce and serious illness. An optimistic outlook, …
One element in the sky never fails to fill me with wonder at its mystery and its sheer beauty. It is the rainbow. At the same time, it never fails to fill me with hope. It doesn’t matter how …
“Il n’ y a en art, ni passé, ni futur. L’art qui n’est pas dans le present ne sera jamais” – Pablo Picasso. What does Picasso mean? In art, he says, there is no past or future. There is only the present. Art that is not in the present will never be. Picasso lived his life very much in the present. (He married twice, and usually had several mistresses in tow. …
Why I think grandparents’ legal rights are fit for purpose by guest blogger David Milburn
Q&A on finances and divorce with Marilyn Stowe – Wednesday February 8th
HuffPost Divorce: The Top 10 Stereotypical Marriage Wreckers
Holocaust Memorial Day: why we must all protect our culture of tolerance
Marathon woman (From Solicitors Journal)
Marilyn Stowe is the Senior Partner at Stowe Family Law LLP. Stowe Family Law LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. SRA ref 469401. Stowe Family Law LLP is registered with Companies House, ref. 331570, and registered for VAT, number 918 5722 04. A list of members is available for inspection at our Harrogate office.
Comments