Family Mediation

Family Mediation is a constructive arena where resolving the conflicts which arise from a separation or divorce or any other immediate or extended family issue can be talked through, discussed and hopefully a positive resolution arrived at. It potentially saves time and money by allowing the parties to reach a mutually acceptable, collaborative and workable agreement together rather than having one imposed by a court.

The National Audit Office reported that family disputes resolved through mediation are cheaper, quicker and according to academic research, less acrimonious than those settled through the courts.

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When thinking about the way forward you may wish to consider the many benefits of mediation, namely:

• It helps reduce hostility and improves the chances of long term co-operation.
• The mediation process tends to be less confrontational and less antagonistic.
• Mediation concentrates on resolving shared problems rather than emphasising entrenched and polarised positions.
• When related to children - it focuses on the interests of children helping you to recognise and meet their needs as parents even when you are no longer a couple.
• Mediation provides the opportunity for you to work in a positive and constructive way.
• Mediation provides an opportunity to assess whether there is any possibility of a co-operative outcome to your dispute.
• Most clients using mediation to reach agreement have 
  lower legal costs.
• You control the pace and content of mediation rather than lawyers, legislation or the court.
• You can improve communication and look to the future, not the past.
• Mediation is less stressful for you and indirectly, for your children.
• The mediation process tends to be quicker than dealing with disputes through Legal Representatives and the Court process.
• Mediation usually takes place face to face so you hear the other person’s words and are able to speak directly, rather than through letters and solicitors.
• Even if, for one reason or another, mediation does not in your particular case result in an agreement, there will almost always be benefits from having attended mediation.
• Where mediation is not successful, you can return to your solicitor with either partial or complete financial disclosure. This should save your own solicitor a good deal of work which means savings in time and your costs.
• Mediation has been proven to reduce the emotional stress involved in family conflict and relationship breakdown and can save unnecessary legal costs.

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Mediation is a confidential and impartial process. It can be an effective way of resolving conflict, discord and confusions within any relationships and is different to couples counselling/psychotherapy or individual consultation with solicitors. We offer mediation to all adults irrespective of age, ethnicity, sexual preference and faith. Family Mediation is a voluntary process and requires both parties to willingly attend the sessions together. Family Mediation is not a legal advice service. It aims to support you both to resolve issues, by a constructive process, prioritising:

• The identification of the important issues
• Support in conflict resolution
• Gathering relevant information
• Exploring choices
• Working collaboratively in order to arrive at mutually acceptable decisions
• Discussion and support about your children (if relevant) and how you could talk with them about the issues you are all facing

You will be offered a short series of mediation meetings, usually 4 or 5, with one or two mediators. The first meeting is an assessment and offers you both the opportunity, with the mediator(s), to decide whether mediation is the right course of action for your particular situation. If mediation is suitable you will then be offered a series of meetings. We work in a comfortable setting and we will help you collect all the relevant information you may need if financial matters are included; we will help you discuss and explore possible arrangements to suit all parties involved.

A written record of any agreements reached during mediation will be sent to you when the mediation is completed. These records are not legally binding, but you can take them to your Solicitor to see if a legal agreement can be formalised if appropriate. This is often the case where proposals are made relating to property and finances.

If you would like to know more or to discuss booking an initial session please contact us -
without obligation.