What is Mediation?

Family mediation is a way of resolving disputes which arise before, during or after separation or divorce. It can also be helpful to avoid problems arising.

Voluntary and confidential

Giving you both the chance to discuss your issues, hopes, concerns and needs with each other, in the presence of a qualified family mediator.

A safe environment

Family mediation helps to reduce hostility and improve the chances of long-term positive communication.

No taking sides

The family mediator does not advise people what to do, give them legal advice, take sides or provide counselling.
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Child Arrangements

It is not unusual to be struggling to find some common ground about the arrangements for the child contact, child residence or shared care. We work to help you to resolve the challenges your facing.
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Financial Mediation

Our mediators can help you to explore ways in which to unravel the financial connection between you, explore different options together, and assist you in trying to find a way forward that works for everyone.
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What Can Mediation Resolve?
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The Mediation Process

Whether you send us a message or give us a call it doesn’t matter. We’ll then call you back at a convenient time and have a chat to understand your current situation. Following this we’ll explain what we can offer for you and which of our services will be most relevant for you. At this point we will then do a legal aid assessment if it’s relevant to check to see if you or your partner are entitled to any financial assistance in the mediation process.
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The Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, often referred to as a MIAM, is the gateway to mediation. A MIAM must be conducted by a mediator who is accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC).

The mediator will arrange to see you both separately for the initial information meeting to find out how best to help in your situation. If both parties are willing to try mediation the mediator will then arrange the first mediation meeting.

Mediators are now required to consider meeting with the children directly to ensure their views are included in the mediation. This can only happen when both parents consent.

It is something that you must attend, except in some rare cases, before you can consider making an application to family Court in relation to any family matters.

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Once you have both attended your initial MIAM meeting the mediator will make arrangements for you both to attend a joint mediation session. This will be at a time and date convenient to everyone involved.

Most of our clients now prefer the convenience of having their mediation meetings online, typically by Zoom. There are still some options for face-to-face mediation where the need arises. Whether you are meeting online of face to face the mediator will have discussed with you both how best to set things up and is some cases this will mean that you and your ex partner maybe in different zooms for all or part of the joint meeting, this is sometimes called ‘shuttle mediation’.

The mediator will help you to hear from one another about the key issues and then explore the options with you both. The mediator will assist you in checking how practical your proposals are, guiding you to reach acceptable and workable solutions that meet your children’s needs. Any outcome you reach is entirely under your control.

Most separated parents benefit from taking a stepping stone approach to building or rebuilding the arrangements for children and on average most parents need between 1 and 2 mediation sessions over time to fully resolve things in cases involving child arrangements. Financial issues typically take 2 to 3 sessions. This may be over a period of time and is often depending on your life events, as well as any plans that you make in session one and the time needed to put them into practice and test things out.

We can then meet again and build upon the progress from session 1 and then address any other issues to enable you both to move forward.

Any solutions reached between you in the mediation can be written up into a letter summarising the proposals. In financial cases we can prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an open financial statement (sometimes called an OFS).

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What happens on the day?

Our Mediators understand that it is not an easy meeting and some of the feelings that you might be going through, for example it is normal for you to feel worried or anxious about what might happen.

The family mediation process involves you working together with the mediator. They will make sure that you each have the chance to put across your point of view and the things that you wish to discuss.

The mediator will help you to hear from one another about the key issues and then explore the options with you both. The mediator will assist you in checking how practical your proposals are, guiding you to reach acceptable and workable solution that works for both of you. Any outcome you reach is entirely under your control.

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What happens after mediation?

For Children only cases the mediator will upon request provide a summary letter detailing any agreements reached. If you require a parenting plan drafted this will be discussed with you at the mediation appointment.

Following the last financial cases the Mediator will produce an open financial statement that will be used as your financial disclosure in any divorce proceedings. This document is open and will need to be signed by each of you. The Mediator will also draft a Memorandum of Understanding or Summary letter depending on your needs, setting out any proposals/agreements reached during the mediation

If we produce a Summary letter, Open Financial Statement, Outcome Statement, Summary letter or Memorandum of Understanding at the end of a session or upon conclusion of your mediation the is a cost. Each document is charged at £120 per person (inc VAT).

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"I can’t recommend mediation enough now, it really is the best way to sort things out."

Susan

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