MEGA Designer fashion sale this Sunday 20th January 11:00am - 2:00pm

Cobham’s most stylish and distinctive designer boutique is holding a MEGA fashion sale this Sunday 20th January and it is not one to missed! cSee Boutique is renowned in the Surrey area for their niche selection of designer brands and has become the go-to destination for anyone looking to find unique pieces with the wow factor, consistently offering style and substance but also the wearability test.

This Sunday will see their first 80% off stock clearance sale where you can shop those unique pieces and all from their current AW/12 Collections. The sale will be held from 11am until 2pm and will be first come first serve on all of the lines available, with a no-hold policy, ensuring that the best bargains are available for everyone!

You will need to pop down to see all of the sumptuous pieces on offer, but we are talking Rupert Sanderson party shoes for £99, Matthew Williamson maxi dresses, Theyksens Theory and 360 knitwear, an irresistible Acne Pony clutch bag that was £600 but will be £120 and the Issa Embellished party dress that everyone was talking about on the catwalk for only £193, originally £965.

So whether it’s a cosy jumper for the chilly weather, a quirky present for a friends birthday, a new party dress or a little pick me up for the January blues, there is something for everyone – but only if your quick!

cSee Boutique, 51 High Street, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3DP Telephone: 01932 863484

Tags: What's on, Fashion, CSee, Cobham, Sale

Sarah Duckworth is a Partner at Mundays of Cobham. Here she discusses the options when your marriage breaks down

Q. My husband and I are going our separate ways. We want to reach an amicable agreement and my husband tells me that I don't need a solicitor. I hear so many things about divorce lawyers, both good and bad. One friend has told me about high legal costs that they have incurred and in hindsight wished that they had not gone down the legal route. I have heard that mediation is better. I don't know what to do? What are my options? Why should I see a divorce lawyer? Is it a good idea to find a solicitor who will offer me a free advice session?
A.Sadly divorce lawyers do sometimes get a bad press. I was at a talk the other day by a top family barrister who mentioned how unfair it was that family lawyers are sometimes misrepresented because family law is one of the most difficult, complex and fast changing areas of the law.
Not only do we need to be abreast of new law in our area, we also need to be highly skilled where there are court proceedings and at the same time have the ‘people’ skills to help our clients through the process.
Our clients are going through one of the most difficult and emotionally challenging times in their own lives. It is a constant balancing act weighing up and advising clients about how a court might deal with their case. yet guide them towards reaching an amicable agreement if that is possible. It is always better to reach a compromise and an agreement. However, sometimes that is simply not possible. On occasions we do need to go to court if the other party is being completely intransigent and will not make fair proposals.
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“It takes a lot of experience to be able to understand the weight a judge might put on each of the factors that are relevant and to predict what a possible outcome might be.”
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Sometimes also we need to go to court, often very quickly, for orders to protect children, to freeze assets, or if there is domestic violence.
So, in answer to your question, Yes! My view is that everyone should take legal advice, at least at the beginning, so that they are completely informed and understand their legal position and options. I have been a family lawyer for many years now and every single case is different. Everyone has a unique set of circumstances.
Also, in this country, we have a legal framework where there is no ‘formula’ for how finances are divided and we have what is called a ‘discretionary’ jurisdiction. If you can't reach an agreement then a judge will decide. A judge will be guided by a number of criteria such as ‘needs’ e.g. for a home and income, and what resources are available but the outcome will depend on your particular set of circumstances and the view of the particular judge who hears your case.
It takes a lot of experience to be able to understand the weight a judge might put on each of the factors that are relevant and to predict what a possible fair outcome might and should be. That is why you do need to find out from a family solicitor what sort of award you might get from a judge.
Armed with that knowledge then you are better able to reach an agreement, either directly with your husband or, perhaps through mediation.
Mediation is a very good option for reaching agreement on any issues. For example, how to split the money, where any children should live and what are appropriate contact arrangements. A mediator is completely independent and has skills to help you to reach your own agreements which are fair agreements. A mediator, therefore, facilitates but it is important to remember that a mediator cannot give you any legal advice. That is why it is important to have your own solicitor who has just your own interests in mind. A mediator will not take ‘sides’. The idea is that you can mediate but at the same time have your own solicitor in the background as and when you need to have advice along the way and to write up any agreement and get that made into an agreed court order.
At Mundays we generally do not offer free advice sessions because in our experience it is not really possible to find out all of the information and then give appropriate advice in such a short session. The initial meeting with a solicitor is a very important one and at Mundays you can expect to have a very thorough understanding of your legal position and your options.
We do understand however, that sometimes a short meeting or phone conversation can be helpful to get an idea of the personality of your solicitor because your relationship with your solicitor is very important and you will need to instruct a solicitor who you feel comfortable with and can communicate easily with. We are offering an opportunity to do that - see alongside. Also if you ring Mundays you will always be put through to a member of the family team so that you can discuss with them what you require before making an appointment.

We are here to help
Mundays have a team comprising seven family lawyers and two mediators. Their family lawyers will be available at their offices in Cobham on two Saturday mornings in May, on 19th and 26th. This gives you the opportunity to meet a member of the team and to have a short informal discussion free of charge.

For appointments, Telephone Caroline Stone on 01932 590591 or visit the Mundays website >>> www.mundays.co.uk

Tags: Legal, Mundays, Cobham