You may think this is strange – a law firm offering advice on how to keep things out of court? The fact is that sometimes there are other options and sometimes it is possible to find solutions to problems that do not necessarily require formal legal proceedings. We strongly believe in helping our clients’ and in ensuring we give them the best advice and part of this is avoiding going to court if it is not necessary or appropriate.
Last resort
A court case is often a last resort – generally speaking even for bigger businesses a settlement out of court helps to avoid unnecessary costs. Furthermore, for a lot of larger businesses they will usually calculate a settlement rather than the damage to the company and its reputation.
Negotiation is often the better alternative. Say for example, you are having problems paying your rent due to money problems, instead of avoiding the calls from your landlord it is better to be upfront with your landlord and say this is something you are dealing with. It may then be possible to come up with an alternative solution where you pay what you owe over a longer period of time.
In financial matters a CCJ (County Court Judgement) could be issued stipulating what you have to pay. In this instance, it is vital to stick to the payment plan mapped out in the CCJ or you could potentially face further prosecution. An agreement may affect your credit rating for a number of years but often it is the better alternative than not being able to repay your creditors.
There are, however, other forms of agreement available and with the right legal advice it is possible to avoid the costs of going to court and to deal with potentially stressful situations in a calm and rational manner. What can often seem hopeless may be easily solvable with options that you may not necessarily have initially considered.
Mediation
In some cases it may be necessary to use the services of a mediator. While a mediator cannot pass a sentence directly they can assist in the negotiation process. This can often be important in situations like divorce proceedings that can be very emotionally challenging as well as dealing with the financial and legal aspects of the case.
Ideally, a mediator should have legal experience in the right field and be impartial, able to make recommendations without favouring one side or the other.
Get the right advice
It is not always obvious whether or not you need to go to court. However it is important to be aware of the options available to you and to decide whether or not you want to attempt mediation or negotiation or if court proceedings are the appropriate option for your current circumstances.
This is why we recommend contacting us for an initial consultation. During this time we can go over the facts of your case in more detail, looking at whether or not an appearance in court can be avoided. We believe in offering the right information to help you make the right choice for your circumstances and to avoid unnecessary additional costs or stress whenever possible.