Resolution- doing family law right.
‘resolution’ was set up in 1982 by a small group of family solicitors who were generally worried about the increasing hostility evidenced in solicitor correspondence. It has never been in the best interests of the clients or their children for family proceedings to be conducted with aggression. It is common sense that costs will spiral, positions will become entrenched, and outcomes will be protracted and bitter unless the heat is taken out of negotiations.
I am a family solicitor, and I have been a member of resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) since I qualified in 1996. I joined resolution because I also believe that family law disputes can and should be resolved in a constructive, not combative, way.
Upon joining the organisation, you are invited to attend a training day where you sign up to a code of practice to adopt in your day-to-day work. The approach to family law cases is emphasised to be conciliatory. The Code of Practice is as follows:
Resolution membership is about the approach we take to our work; this means Resolution members will:
• Reduce or manage any conflict and confrontation; for example, by not using inflammatory language.
• Support and encourage families to put the best interests of any children first.
• Act with honesty, integrity and objectivity.
• Help clients understand and manage the potential long-term financial and emotional consequences of decisions.
• Listen to and treat everyone with respect and without judgment.
• Use my experience and knowledge to guide clients through the options available to them.
• Continually develop my knowledge and skills.
• Use the Resolution Guides to Good Practice in my day-to-day work.
And work with other Resolution members to uphold this Code and ensure it is at the heart of everything I do.
It’s so simple; yet powerful, isn’t it? And I can attest that it really works! I apply these principles to my practice as a lawyer. I find the clients appreciate it and value the effort to resolve rather than litigate.
Resolution creates a lot of useful content for its members to use in their practice. Good Practice Guides, Guidance Notes and Handbooks are available and cover practically every area of family law; from communication and correspondence to safeguarding children and young people, dealing with social media, drafting documents, funding options, working with litigants in person, and much, much more. I think that using these guides has enabled me to enhance my skills and keep my practice current. I read resolution publication ‘The Review’ to appraise myself of updates in family law and to catch up on what is happening in our industry. I see all this content as invaluable to my practice as a family lawyer.
Resolution has announced that 2025 is the organisation’s ‘Year of the Code’. We are reminded of its importance to our work. I agree. I actively encourage my department team to join resolution, and I advocate the use of the Practice Guides. I am doing my bit by sharing the Code of Practice and promoting this amazing organisation which works so hard behind the scenes to make family law practice a little bit easier to understand and navigate for our clients.
If you have a family law case you need assistance with, please contact Mavis on 020 8885 7986 to arrange for an appointment with a solicitor in the family team.
Need advice?
Our experienced solicitors are here to help.
Call 020 8885 7986 to speak with a member of our team.
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Need advice on a family law matter?
Our experienced solicitors are here to help.
Call 020 8885 7986 to speak with a member from our family law team/team member name.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is defined as an arrangement “when another woman carries and gives birth to a baby for the couple who want to have a child”. When entering such an arrangement the surrogate mother may be the child’s genetic mother – known as traditional surrogacy. Or the surrogate mother may have no genetic relation to the child – gestational surrogacy.
Following on from the birth of the child born through surrogacy, the birth mother is still regarded in law as the child’s mother and will be named as such on the child’s birth certificate. However, this may not continue to be the case for a significant period. The intended parents, the couple who arranged for the surrogate mother to carry the child can apply to the High Court for a Parental Order. Once the Parental Order is made this allows them to re-register the birth and be named as the child’s parent. The regulation that oversees this is the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. We are experienced in advising and representing intended parents applying for a Parental Order.
If a surrogacy arrangement takes place in the UK an application for a Parental Order can be made following the birth. However, if a surrogacy arrangement has been entered into abroad in a jurisdiction where the UK recognises surrogacy arrangements entered in that jurisdiction consideration will need to be given about the application that needs to be made to the Home Office before the child is able to enter the UK lawfully. In the absence of proper planning in advance of the birth, the child can remain restricted within the birth country for a significant period.
International Foreign Adoption
We specialise in international foreign adoption. Usually, adoptions for countries outside of this jurisdiction fall int three categories:
• Hague countries
• Designated list countries
• Countries that do not fit into either of the above
Hague Convention Countries
The UK is signatory to the 1993 convention of protection of children and cooperation in respect of inter-country adoptions (Hague Convention). If you wish to adopt a child from another country outside of this jurisdiction which is a signatory to the Hague Convention then you will need to follow the process the convention lays out.
In this jurisdiction the Department of Education oversees the Hague Convention adoptions. A Hague Convention adoption is recognised in this jurisdiction and the parents will not need to re-adopt the child once the child enters into the UK. If one of the adoptive parents is a British citizen then the child would automatically be granted British nationality.
Designated List Countries
There are countries on the designated list that are named in the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) Order 1973. When an adoption is made in any of these countries then that Adoption Order is recognised automatically in this jurisdiction. However, unlike Hague country adoptions there is a requirement to make an application for British citizenship for an adopted child and this is where our immigration department can assist in making such an application. The decision to grant British nationality is entirely at the discretion of the Home Office and thus it is essential that such an application is made by an experienced immigration representative.
Adoption From Other Countries
If you wish to adopt a child from another country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention or Designated List, then the adoption will not be recognised in this jurisdiction. We can discuss with you the options available to you and the route you may wish to take dependant upon whether you live in the UK or outside this jurisdiction with the child.
Our family and immigration lawyers have the experience you can rely on to navigate through the complicated process of adopting a child from overseas. We approach each case in a bespoke manner, and we ensure that every family is supported through this inter-country adoption process.