Round table meetings can be an effective ‘without prejudice’ way to negotiate divorce-related issues outside of court, such as child arrangement disputes or financial agreements.
Ideally, round table discussions work towards mutually acceptable solutions which may simplify, or even avoid entirely, the court process. However, these meetings are not a replacement for all legal processes, and you may still have to go through lengthy court proceedings.
What is a round table divorce meeting in family law?
A round table divorce meeting is a negotiation session in which two parties, and their solicitors, meet up to discuss issues related to a divorce. They are usually carried out under ‘without-prejudice’ conditions, which means that the discussions are entirely confidential and neither party can use anything from them in court.
They allow for open and honest discussions without the presence of a judge, which can sometimes slow or inhibit progress. Although it’s the ideal goal, round table divorce discussions won’t always result in a solution, but the aim is to make at least some progress towards one.
Why should you consider having a roundtable meeting when dealing with a divorce?
When dealing with a divorce, you should consider a roundtable meeting for the following reasons:
- Cost/time efficiency – Even when they don’t result in a full agreement, round table discussions can help resolve specific snagging points which are slowing progress in a divorce. This saves money and time on legal fees and court appearances.
- Increased communication – If the divorce is even somewhat amicable, the absence of a judge encourages direct communication between both parties, with the assistance of a solicitor.
- Encourages collaboration – The shift from working against each other can be beneficial for both parties, as well as any children or family members involved.
- Flexibility and privacy – Meetings can take place at an agreed time, convenient for both parties. They are also much more private than traditional court proceedings.
What information do you need to provide your solicitor with before a round table meeting?
Before a round table meeting, you’ll need to provide your solicitor with any documents or information which is relevant to your case. This may be:
- Financial information such as assets, debts, income, pensions and information about the other party’s finances so far as is known to you.
- Child Maintenance Assessments
- Copies of any existing Court Orders
- Any medical information if either party or the children have any health issues
- Mortgage borrowing capacity information
- Housing particulars of properties suitable to meet your housing needs
Your expert family law solicitor will tell you what documents you need to provide them with so don’t worry, this is just an overview so you know what to expect.
What happens at a round table divorce meeting
There are a few stages to a round table divorce meeting:
- Before the meeting – Both parties must agree to the meeting, and the conditions under which it takes place. Your respective solicitors will be in touch with yourself and each other to decide an agreed location and time for the meeting.
- Attending the meeting – Your solicitors will begin by discussing and outlining the position of their respective party, as well as agreeing on the key issues which should be resolved. From there, negotiations will begin, with time for ‘breakout’ sessions which allow for discussion between client and solicitor.
- Meeting outcome – If you reach an agreement on everything, this will be written up into a document, and both you and your former partner will sign the agreement. This agreement can be made legally binding if it is turned into a court order by solicitors. If no agreement is reached, you may look at other options such as mediation or full court proceedings.
What happens after a round table divorce meeting has concluded?
After a round table divorce meeting has concluded (if you came to a full agreement), your solicitor should prepare a formal court order – usually a consent order – which outlines everything which has been agreed upon. This is then submitted to court for approval, before being reviewed and approved by a judge to make it legally binding.
Alternatively, if the issue relates to child arrangements, then you may prefer to enter into a Parenting Agreement rather than a Child Arrangements Order. Your solicitor will discuss what is the best option for you.
If you don’t reach an agreement during the meeting, you’ll have to explore other options. Discuss this with your expert solicitor to decide whether it’s worth trying mediation, divorce arbitration, or entering into court proceedings.
How many round table divorce meetings do you need?
The number of round table divorce meetings needed varies based on the complexity of your situation, and whether you can quickly come to an agreement. You also might decide that there is no point organising any more meetings because you don’t see any progress being made, in which case you’d probably look to instigate court proceedings.
Generally, anywhere from 1-5 meetings is seen as normal, with cases involving children or difficult financial matters being more likely to take 4 or 5 sessions.
Remember, round table meetings can be more cost-efficient than traditional court proceedings, but the more sessions that are needed, the more money you’ll need to pay.
The pros and cons of round table meetings for a divorce
There are some positives to a round table meeting for a divorce:
- Increased control – Couples stay in control of more aspects of the divorce, granting the ability to reach agreements which work for both parties.
- Encourages collaboration – Particularly in co-parenting situations, collaboration is vital for everybody involved and smoothens the process.
- Quick and flexible – Round tables are quicker than court proceedings, and can be flexible to the needs of both parties.
- Cost-effective – Generally, round table meetings save you money, as you won’t have to go through the lengthy and expensive process of going to court.
There are also some possible drawbacks you should consider:
- Intense – Feeling pressure to reach an agreement can be tiring and emotionally draining, especially if there is some level of conflict.
- No guarantee of a solution – In some cases, you may go through multiple meetings before deciding to go through the traditional court process anyway, this could end up costing even more money and time.
- Not always suitable – They are only suitable in situations where there is some mutual respect and level of communication between both parties.