Splitting Couples Must Talk Before Fighting

Mediation has long been seen as a good way of trying to resolve differences especially in family cases. However, hard on the heels of one of Britain's longest-running and most bitter divorces, there is a concerted effort by the courts to drive more couples towards mediation.

The multi-million pound divorce case of Young v Young was, according to the judge, "extraordinary even by the standards of the most bitter of matrimonial breakdowns". The seven-year court battle between the couple has cost millions and notched up 65 hearings in court before the wife finally secured a £20 million financial award. And the case may yet return to court to deal with costs and enforcing the award.