Delighted to be Featured in The Sunday Times: 17 Ways to Have a “Better Divorce” in 2026
- Dede Gold
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
“Dede Gold — solicitor-turned-mediator and conflict resolution specialist.”
I was truly delighted to be featured in The Sunday Times in an article by Lucy Denyer exploring “17 ways to have a better divorce in 2026.” The piece brought together a range of expert voices with one shared aim: to help people reduce emotional and financial damage while navigating one of life’s toughest transitions.
If you’re going through separation (or considering it), I know how overwhelming it can feel — not only emotionally, but logistically too. The good news is that there are ways to move through divorce with more clarity, dignity, and control, even when emotions are running high.
The idea I shared in the article: treat divorce like a project
In the feature, I described divorce as something that benefits from what I call your “project manager hat.” Not because divorce is clinical — it isn’t — but because when things feel chaotic, structure can be a lifeline.
When you treat divorce like a project, you’re more likely to:
make decisions with a clearer head
avoid spiralling into reactive conflict
reduce professional fees by using the right support at the right time
protect children from being caught in the emotional crossfire
Here are three practical ways to apply this approach.
1) Break it into workstreams (instead of one massive problem)
A “project-managed divorce” becomes far more manageable when you separate it into distinct areas, for example:
Emotional support (your wellbeing, resilience, decision-making)
Communication (how you speak to your ex, what channels you use, boundaries)
Children (routines, calendars, school arrangements, introducing new partners)
Finances (gathering documents, budgeting, short-term stability, long-term planning)
Legal process (what must be formalised, what can be agreed, what needs advice)
When everything is lumped together, you end up negotiating children while still furious about money, and discussing money while grieving the relationship. Separating the “workstreams” helps you stay calmer and more effective.
2) Use the right support in the right order
One of the biggest cost-escalators is bringing in expensive professional help before you’ve had any chance to stabilise emotionally or organise the basics.
If it’s safe to do so, many people benefit from this sequence:
Emotional support (counsellor/coach/therapeutic space)
Legal advice (to get early guidance, information and understanding)
Financial advice (clarity around current position and what’s possible)
Mediation or structured conversations (when appropriate to see what can be negotiated once fully informed)
This is about using professional advice strategically, with the right input from the right expert at the right time.
3) Prepare for mediation like you’d prepare for an important meeting
If you and your former partner can have a conversation without it turning into a battlefield, mediation can be a powerful route.
To get the best out of mediation:
write a list of what needs to be agreed (not what you want to “win”)
separate practical issues from emotional ones
come prepared to compromise on some things so you can protect what matters most
focus on solutions that are workable for the next 12–24 months, not just this week
Mediation isn’t about pretending everything is fine — it’s about creating agreements that reduce future conflict and allow both people to move forward.
A gentle reminder (especially if you have children)
Separation changes the shape of a family — it doesn’t end it. Even if you never want a personal relationship with your ex again, you can aim for a polite, businesslike co-parenting relationship that protects your children’s emotional safety.
And if communication is currently difficult, that doesn’t mean a “good divorce” is impossible — it just means you may need stronger boundaries and better structure.
Read the Sunday Times feature
If you’d like to read the full article, you can find it here (The Sunday Times may require a subscription):
(If that link doesn’t open directly, searching the title “17 ways to have a better divorce in 2026 Lucy Denyer Sunday Times” should find it.)
If you’d like support
If you’re facing separation and want help approaching it with clarity and calm — whether that’s communication strategy, mediation support, or planning your next steps — you’re welcome to get in touch.
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