Pictured above: Fiona Apthorpe, head of the Family and
Mediation department at Robinsons Solicitors, in St James Court,
Friar Gate, Derby
Family lawyers in Derbyshire have been working at full stretch
after experiencing a 40 per cent increase in calls this month from
people looking to separate or divorce.
Every year, the family law team at Robinsons Solicitors, in St
James Court, Friar Gate, brace themselves for a busy January and
2011 has been no different, with an expected rise in new
inquiries.
In the first two weeks of the year, the firm's received 42
inquiries - an average of 21 a week, compared to the usual weekly
average of around 15.
Fiona Apthorpe, head of the firm's Family and Mediation
department, put the increase down to the effect of things returning
to normal after the Christmas period.
Not only is the so-called season of goodwill a time when couples
argue more and realise that their marriage is over, others will
have made their mind up before, but will have waited until the
festivities are over before seeking legal advice.
Fiona said: "We always know to expect a busy New Year and this
one is no different. We have been extremely busy taking instruction
from clients who have decided to make a new start of it in
2011.
"There are a host of different reasons why people contact us
now. Very rarely do they start divorce proceedings in the heat of
the moment; it's likely that they will have made their minds up a
while ago but will have waited until after Christmas, either
because they didn't want to ruin the festive period or because they
wanted to see if they could mend their relationship over the
holiday.
"Others are even more practical and decide that since getting
divorced means that they'll have to sell their home, they wait
until January to start proceedings in order to put their property
on the market in the Spring."