Early Neutral Evaluation

For an Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) the parties choose a specialist Private Law Children or Financial Remedies barrister to act as a neutral Evaluator. Engaging in a Children ENE brings all the advantages available to those attending a Dispute Resolution Hearing in Children proceedings.

At the ENE the parties are provided with the “indication” of what a Court would be likely to order at a Final Hearing if the matter cannot be resolved by agreement. It is this indication that helps provide the basis for a resolution of any dispute. An ENE can be focused on a specific issue such as an appropriate schooling provision or holiday or a wide-ranging review of all substantive child arrangement issues – including likely time spent arrangements, the appropriateness of shared care orders and relocation applications.

A Financial ENE is a compressed version of the private FDR.  The parties either provide an agreed set of facts or each party submits a set range of documents. The chosen barrister will then provide an evaluation for the parties.   This can be through a meeting, including remotely by video or telephone, or through a written report, as the parties prefer.

Early Neutral Evaluation Barristers