If you’re separating, divorcing or dissolving a civil partnership, Family Mediation can help you and your ex-partner make arrangements for your children and finances.
If you’re involved in a dispute with a neighbour, family member or work colleague a Mediator can work with those involved to identify the issues you don’t agree on and help you to try and reach an agreement.
What is Family Mediation?
Family Mediation offers a safe, confidential environment for you to make arrangements for the future following the end of a relationship. This could be financial issues or discussions about where and with whom your children may live. The law now says that you must consider whether mediation can help before you can take your case to court.
Watch the video below from The Family Mediation Council, a national Family Mediation organisation in England and Wales explaining Family Mediation.
Sorting Out Separation: Parents Working Together
What happens in Family Mediation?
The initial meeting with a trained Mediator takes about 45 minutes via the simple online platform Zoom. The session can be held with both of you or separately and aims to help you decide if mediation is right for you.
After that you will attend joint mediation sessions – usually around 90 minutes – to help you discuss and identify the solutions available to you both. The number of meetings will depend on your individual needs.
When an agreement is reached, your Mediator will provide you with a written summary so that everyone is clear about what has been decided. Your agreement can also be made legally binding by the court.
How can Family Mediation help me?
- Family Mediation gives you more say about what happens.
- It is quicker, cheaper and less stressful than a lengthy court process.
- It is easier on your children – when parents co-operate it helps them maintain important family relationships.
What is the cost of Mediation?
Family Mediation is free if you’re on a low income and are eligible for legal aid. You can check if you qualify by using the legal aid checker on gov.uk.
If you’re not eligible for legal aid, or if you’re looking to use Mediation to resolve another type of dispute, please contact us for further information on costs.
We’re a charity and we don’t make any profit from our services so we have to charge a fee for Mediation. Please get in touch with us for further information.
Other Mediation services
Mediation can offer an effective solution for many disputes including:
- Between colleagues in the workplace
- Between neighbours in the community
- Between landlords and tenants
- Between health professionals and patients’ family members
- Between families experiencing inheritance or probate issues
One of our experienced Mediators will meet all those involved in the dispute to talk through the options and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. Working together with the Mediator everyone will be involved in further meetings to agree on a solution.