Divorce Financial Settlements Solicitors in Milton Keynes

Q: What is early neutral evaluation?

Early neutral evaluation is a process in which both parties provide information about their dispute to an experienced, independent family lawyer, who then gives an assessment of the likely outcome if the matter went to court. The assessment is non-binding: neither party is required to accept it or settle on the terms suggested. Its purpose is to give both sides a realistic, independent picture of where they stand so that negotiations can be better informed.

Q: How is early neutral evaluation different from arbitration?

In arbitration, the arbitrator makes a binding decision that both parties have agreed in advance to accept. In early neutral evaluation, the evaluator gives an opinion on the likely outcome, but neither party is obliged to act on it. Arbitration produces a definitive result; evaluation provides an informed assessment to assist negotiation. Many cases that begin with early neutral evaluation then proceed to a negotiated settlement.

Q: Can early neutral evaluation be used for disputes about children?

Yes. An evaluator can give an assessment of how the court is likely to approach the arrangements in dispute, what weight it would give to each party's position, and what outcome is most probable. This can help parents reach agreement without the delays and pressure of court proceedings.

Q: Is an early neutral evaluation confidential?

Yes. The evaluation process and the assessment given are confidential and cannot ordinarily be used in court proceedings. This encourages both parties to engage openly without concern that what is said or assessed will be used against them if the matter does proceed to court.

Q: Do both parties have to agree to early neutral evaluation?

Yes. Early neutral evaluation requires both parties to agree to participate and to agree on the evaluator. If the other party will not engage, the process cannot proceed. In that situation, other options such as mediation, arbitration, or a court application may be more appropriate.

Q: What happens after the evaluation?

Once the evaluator has given their assessment, it is for the parties and their solicitors to decide what to do with it. Many cases settle in the period following an evaluation because both parties now share an independent view of the likely court outcome. If settlement is not achieved, the parties can proceed to further negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or court.

Q: Is early neutral evaluation the same as a private Financial Dispute Resolution?

They are closely related but not identical. A private Financial Dispute Resolution mirrors the FDR hearing in financial remedy proceedings, in which a senior lawyer helps the parties negotiate but does not impose a binding decision. Early neutral evaluation is a broader concept that can be used at an earlier stage and can be more informal. Both involve a neutral expert giving a view on the likely outcome; the differences lie in timing and procedural framework.

Q: How much does early neutral evaluation cost?

The cost includes the evaluator's fee, which varies depending on their seniority and the complexity of the issues, as well as your solicitor's time in preparing your case for evaluation. Please visit our pricing page at https://www.purcellsolicitors.co.uk/pricing/ for further information.

Jump to: How We Can Help Why Us? What We Can Offer Our expertise Frequently Asked Questions

Client receiving independent early neutral evaluation assessment from family law solicitor – Purcell Solicitors Milton Keynes

“Pauline, Chantelle and team were very helpful and supportive during the whole process. They worked quickly and efficiently to achieve the final outcome of my divorce and closure of joint assets. The process, explainations and communication were very clear and concise which also helped keep costs manageable. I would highly recommend using Purcell for family and divorce legal matters.” – Review Solicitors

How we can help

If you want an experienced Family Law Solicitor to give you an objective assessment of where your case stands before it goes further, we can provide an early neutral evaluation or, if we are representing you in negotiations we can arrange for an experienced third party opinion and represent you within that process including a private Financial Dispute Resolution hearing if that would be more suitable.

One of the hardest things about a family law dispute is not knowing where you actually stand. Each party often holds a different view of what is fair and what the law says, and without an external perspective, it can be very difficult to bridge that gap. Early neutral evaluation gives both parties that external perspective, before significant legal costs have been incurred and before entrenched positions make agreement harder to reach.

An experienced family lawyer, agreed upon by both parties, reviews the information each side has provided and gives a clear, honest assessment of the likely outcome if the matter went before a court. That evaluation is not binding: neither party is obliged to accept it or settle on those terms.

At Purcell Solicitors, we offer early neutral evaluation to clients across Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, and the wider Thames Valley. Our early neutral evaluation Solicitors are ranked in Chambers and Partners for family and divorce law, and all of our solicitors are Resolution members committed to helping you reach sensible, fair agreements in a non-confrontational manner. For cases involving significant financial issues, see also our divorce financial settlement page for information on how financial remedy matters are resolved outside court.

Why Us?

Why Choose Purcell Solicitors for Early Neutral Evaluation?

The value of early neutral evaluation depends entirely on the quality and experience of the evaluator. An assessment from someone without deep knowledge of family law in practice will not carry weight with either party and will not move matters forward.

We also understand the practical side of the process. Early neutral evaluation works best when both parties go in genuinely prepared to hear an honest assessment. We will prepare you for that, help you understand what the evaluation means once it has been given, and advise you clearly on what to do next.

Please call us on 01908 693000 or fill in our contact form and one of our Family Law Solicitors will call you to discuss your situation.

Couple reaching a family law settlement following early neutral evaluation – Purcell Solicitors Milton Keynes

What we can offer

Our Early Neutral Evaluation Services

We can assist with early neutral evaluation in the following ways:

Advising you on whether early neutral evaluation is suitable for your dispute and what to expect from the process.
Helping to identify and agree on an appropriate evaluator, whether a solicitor, barrister, or former judge with expertise in the relevant area.
Preparing a clear summary of your position and the issues for the evaluator to consider.
Attending the evaluation session with you and supporting you through the process.
Advising you on the evaluator’s assessment once it has been given and what it means for your options.
Using the evaluation as a foundation for a negotiated settlement, following up directly with the other side in light of the independent assessment.
Acting as the evaluator in suitable cases, drawing on our team’s depth of experience in family matters.
Advising on whether a formal private Financial Dispute Resolution hearing might be more appropriate than a standard early neutral evaluation, depending on the stage of your case.

Our-Expertise

Who we are

Our core family law team is made up of

Pauline Purcell, Managing Director, Family Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer and Family Arbitrator, with over 30 years of experience.

Mandi Austin, Director, Family Law Solicitor, a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel, with over 25 years of experience in family law as a qualified solicitor.

Lisa Buckridge, Director, Family Law Solicitor, Collaborative Lawyer, Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator, and fully accredited in Child Inclusive Mediation, with over 20 years of experience in family law

Haidee French – Family Law Solicitor, a Member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel with over 12 years of experience in family law

Stephanie Dodman, Family Law Solicitor, member of Resolution.

Chantelle Pusey, Trainee Solicitor