Irwin Mitchell commits to child focused approach in divorce and separation cases

Irwin Mitchell has today committed to ensuring that all clients going through divorce or separation receive clear, child focused guidance at the very start of the process, reinforcing the firm’s focus on constructive resolution and children’s wellbeing.

As part of this commitment, Irwin Mitchell will now routinely share an open letter from the Children’s Commissioner for England with divorce and separating parents. The letter encourages parents to keep children’s experiences, emotional needs and long term wellbeing at the heart of decision making during separation.

The move aligns with wider changes in family law and practice, including the growing emphasis on mediation and other forms of non-court dispute resolution, and the introduction of no-fault divorce.

Clare Wiseman, Head of Family Law at Irwin Mitchell, said: “We know from decades of evidence and experience that it is often not the separation itself that causes the greatest harm to children, but prolonged and unresolved conflict between parents.

“By sharing the Children’s Commissioner’s letter with clients at the outset, we are helping parents understand why the way they separate matters, and how child focused decision making can make a lasting difference to their children’s lives.

“Of course not everyone can agree on everything, and there will always be a need for the courts to help resolve conflicts between parents, but we hope this will set the tone for how children are considered during any separation.”

The firm’s approach is informed by the work of the Family Solutions Group and the new Putting Children First report, which brings together the views of family law professionals across the UK on how practice can better support children and families following separation.

Alongside a strong reputation for litigation in family law, Irwin Mitchell also has specialist mediators who can help with a more collaborative approach where appropriate. The addition of the Children’s Commissioner’s letter is intended to support parents in understanding what “best interests” look like in practice, and to encourage informed, thoughtful choices from the earliest stages of a case.

Joanna Gosling, a specialist mediator at Irwin Mitchell who was involved in the Family Solutions Group which created the letter, added: “I’m proud to have worked with the Family Solutions Group on its Putting Children First report, which brings together the experience of hundreds of family law practitioners and makes strong recommendations about how professionals can better support children through separation.

“The letter keeps the focus firmly on children’s wellbeing and helps parents understand what “best interests” mean in real, everyday terms.

“My hope is that this letter becomes a no brainer resource — something routinely shared by solicitors, mediators and other professionals to help parents make informed, child focused decisions from the very start.”

Irwin Mitchell will continue to support clients through a range of dispute resolution options, including mediation, collaborative law and court proceedings where necessary, always with a focus on clarity, dignity and child centred outcomes.