Good Divorce week 2025

Good Divorce Week takes place from 10 to 14 November 2025. Each year, it shines a light on how divorce and separation can be handled differently — with dignity, understanding, and collaboration rather than confrontation.

This year’s focus on “The Year of the Code” encourages all Resolution members — from solicitors and mediators to financial advisers and counsellors — to reaffirm their commitment to working constructively, avoiding conflict where possible, and putting families, especially children, first.

Resolution’s message is simple but powerful: divorce doesn’t have to mean conflict. There’s a better way — one that prioritises communication, fairness, and the long-term wellbeing of everyone involved.

The Code That Puts Families First

At the heart of Resolution’s philosophy is its Code of Practice, which all members pledge to follow. It’s not just a statement of ethics; it’s a guide for how to support families through one of the most challenging times in their lives.

Members of Resolution commit to:

Reducing conflict and avoiding inflammatory language.

Encouraging families to put the best interests of children first.

Acting with honesty, integrity, and respect.

Helping clients understand the long-term emotional and financial consequences of their decisions.


Working collaboratively with other professionals to achieve fair outcomes.

For people in Doncaster, Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley, this means that when they choose a solicitor or mediator who’s a Resolution member, they’re choosing someone who’s trained and committed to keeping things as calm, constructive, and child-focused as possible.

A System Under Strain

The family court system in England and Wales is facing unprecedented pressure. According to recent parliamentary findings, over 1,000 new cases enter the family courts every working day. The average time to resolve a private family law case has risen from 26 weeks in 2018 to 41 weeks in 2024 — a 36% increase.

Here in South Yorkshire, practitioners are seeing those figures play out in real time. Families are waiting longer for hearings, parents are representing themselves because they can’t afford legal advice, and children are caught in the emotional crossfire of protracted disputes.

“Our courts are doing their best, but they’re at breaking point. When cases drag on, nobody wins — not the parents, not the children, and certainly not the wider community. That’s why approaches that keep families out of court are so important.”

Resolution’s national campaign highlights this issue and calls on government to invest in early legal advice. Research consistently shows that couples who access information and guidance early in the process are far less likely to end up in court, saving time, money, and heartache for everyone involved.

A South Yorkshire Area Perspective

While the national picture can look bleak, there’s growing optimism in South Yorkshire and the North Midlands. Across Doncaster, Sheffield and the surrounding areas, many family law firms are adopting Resolution’s Code wholeheartedly.

In Doncaster, local practitioners have long championed mediation and collaborative law as alternatives to the courtroom. These approaches give couples the tools to reach agreement together, supported by professionals who prioritise calm communication and practical outcomes.

South Yorkshire’s strong sense of community also plays a role. In smaller towns and close-knit neighbourhoods, families are more likely to value ongoing relationships — co-parenting, grandparent access, and shared family events don’t simply vanish after separation. The constructive ethos behind Good Divorce Week aligns naturally with these values.

Finding a Better Way: Alternatives to Court

So, what does a “good divorce” actually look like in practice? It doesn’t mean a painless one — emotions will always run high when families change shape. But it does mean choosing processes that reduce confrontation and give couples control over the outcome.

Mediation

Mediation involves meeting with a neutral, trained professional who helps both partners discuss their issues openly and explore solutions together. It’s confidential, voluntary, and often quicker and cheaper than going to court.

Collaborative Law

In collaborative law, both parties sit around the same table with their solicitors to agree on key matters such as finances and childcare. The focus is on problem-solving, not point-scoring. Everyone signs an agreement not to go to court — which encourages creative thinking and cooperation.

Arbitration

This is a private process where a trained arbitrator (often a former judge or senior lawyer) makes a binding decision on disputed issues. It offers privacy, speed, and flexibility compared with the public court system.

Parenting Coordination & Family Counselling

Sometimes, the emotional aspects of separation need just as much attention as the legal ones. Parenting coordinators and counsellors can help separated parents manage communication, resolve disputes about contact, and keep children’s needs at the heart of decisions.

Putting Children at the Centre

One of Resolution’s core principles — and a central theme of Good Divorce Week — is that children should come first.

Research shows that it’s not divorce itself that causes long-term harm to children, but the conflict that can surround it. Children exposed to prolonged parental hostility are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and academic struggles.

By contrast, children whose parents handle separation with civility and cooperation are better able to adapt and thrive.

Resolution members encourage parents to create parenting plans — structured yet flexible agreements about living arrangements, schooling, holidays, and communication. These plans focus on consistency and reassurance, helping children feel safe even as family life changes around them.

Here in South Yorkshire, schools, family support workers, and mediation services increasingly work together to help families maintain stability through separation. It’s a community-wide effort that embodies the spirit of Good Divorce Week.

Why Early Advice Matters

Good Divorce Week 2025 also renews the call for government-funded early legal advice.

Many couples only seek professional help once things have already broken down beyond repair. Early advice — even a one-off meeting with a family solicitor or mediator — can make an enormous difference. It helps couples understand their rights, responsibilities, and the range of available options before emotions harden and positions become entrenched.

“Our members are committed to helping separating couples minimise conflict. But they’re currently hampered by a perfect storm — an under-resourced court system, lack of access to information, and rising numbers of people representing themselves in court. We need to ensure the public has access to the right advice at the right time.”

— Melanie Bataillard-Samuel, National Chair of Resolution

For local families, this means recognising that getting early help isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a sign of wisdom and care for everyone involved.

Divorce with Dignity: A Doncaster Approach

In Doncaster, the concept of a “good divorce” has real meaning. Local Resolution-trained professionals see firsthand how constructive approaches transform families’ futures.

When couples mediate successfully, children see their parents cooperate rather than clash. When financial issues are resolved privately, households can move forward without years of bitterness. And when respect is preserved, extended families — grandparents, cousins, mutual friends — don’t have to choose sides.

Local family solicitors often remark that once the dust settles, their clients’ main regret isn’t that they divorced, but that they didn’t handle it more calmly from the start. That’s exactly what Good Divorce Week hopes to change — turning regret into readiness, and conflict into cooperation.

Looking Ahead: Building a Fairer Family Justice System

Good Divorce Week isn’t just a campaign; it’s part of a broader movement toward a fairer, more compassionate family justice system. Resolution continues to campaign for reforms, including:

Restoring access to publicly funded early advice.

Supporting digital innovation to reduce court delays.

Encouraging the use of non-court processes wherever possible.

Promoting public awareness about constructive separation options.

These efforts matter not only for separating couples, but for wider society. Healthy family transitions mean less strain on social services, fewer school behavioural issues, and stronger communities overall.

Hope Beyond Separation

A “good divorce” doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means acknowledging pain, but choosing not to let it define the process. It means focusing on the future — for you, your children, and the people you care about.

Good Divorce Week 2025 reminds us that with the right advice and the right approach, separation can be handled with respect, not resentment.

So if you’re facing the possibility of divorce or separation, take that first step wisely. Talk to a solicitor or mediator who’s a member of Resolution. Ask about your options. Learn how to keep communication open, protect your children, and build a positive foundation for the next chapter of your life.