Going through a marriage breakdown is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can face. Where do you even start? What do your legal rights look like? What happens to the finances or to arrangements for the children? These are the questions that keep people up at night.
At Farleys, we introduced Case Management Meetings specifically to help clients answer those questions, clearly, personally, and without the uncertainty that comes from not knowing where to stand.
What is a Case Management Meeting?
A Case Management Meeting gives you up to one hour of focused legal advice with one of our specialist family law solicitors. It isn’t a generic overview of the law, it’s advice tailored to your situation.
After the meeting, you’ll receive a bespoke written case plan covering everything we’ve discussed: the key issues, your options, and clear action points. Something you can take away, refer back to, and use as a foundation for the decisions ahead.
As one client put it to me recently: “It’s worth its weight in gold.”
Why we introduced them
Thirteen years ago, the reduction of Legal Aid fundamentally changed how private family law was funded. For many people, the cost of specialist legal advice suddenly felt out of reach, at precisely the point when they needed it most.
We wanted to find a way to ensure our clients could still access expert, specific advice on a cost-effective basis. Case Management Meetings were our response to that. They’ve been running ever since, and they’ve evolved significantly over time, but the principle has always been the same: give you the information you need to move forward with confidence.
What difference does it make in practice?
The most important thing about these meetings isn’t just the advice itself, it’s the fact that it’s specific to you. We don’t give generic guidance. We try to walk in your shoes.
This matters more than ever in the wake of no-fault divorce, which reached its fourth anniversary this month. It was a welcome change, but it has also created some genuine misunderstandings. In Case Management Meetings over the past four years, we’ve met many clients who didn’t realise:
A Final Order of Divorce does not automatically protect you from future financial claims by a former spouse. Without a financial order in place, those claims can still arise years later.
Once a Final Order of Divorce is granted, you are no longer treated as a spouse for pension purposes. In many cases, particularly where a pension is one of the most significant assets, this can have serious long-term consequences that people simply weren’t aware of.
These are the kinds of issues that don’t come up in a Google search. They come up in a proper conversation with a specialist, which is exactly what a Case Management Meeting is designed to be.
When Should You Book a Case Management Meeting?
The earlier, the better. Whatever your financial position following a marriage breakdown, taking legal advice at the earliest opportunity gives you the best chance of making informed decisions, rather than reactive ones.
You don’t need to have a solicitor already. You don’t need to know exactly what you want to ask. You just need to take that first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in a Case Management Meeting?
The meeting is your opportunity to go through your situation in detail with a specialist family law solicitor. We’ll cover the key issues relevant to your case, whether that’s divorce and financial matters, arrangements for children, or both, and make sure you understand your position and your options. After the meeting, you’ll receive a written case plan summarising the advice and setting out clear next steps.
How much does a Case Management Meeting cost?
Cost depends on your choice of partner, senior associate or solicitor. Our experts will be able to give you details of the fixed fee when you get in touch. What we can say is that a Case Management Meeting is designed to be accessible, it was created precisely because we believe everyone going through a marriage breakdown deserves proper legal advice.
Do I need to have started divorce proceedings to book a meeting?
No. A Case Management Meeting is suitable at any stage, whether you’re just beginning to consider your options or you’re already part-way through the process and want to make sure you’re on the right track.
Contact us
Leading one of the most experienced family law teams in the North West, I know how much of a difference early, specialist advice can make. Our clients don’t just leave knowing where they stand, they leave knowing what to do next.
If you’d like to find out more about our Case Management Meetings, or to discuss your situation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01254 606 008 or via our enquiry form.
