Family mediation – divorce and dispute resolution.
We believe the most constructive and beneficial solutions to family law issues are often the ones that avoid costly and adversarial litigation. Using family mediation to help you resolve issues when you separate is often a quicker and cheaper route to a fair and reasonable result, facilitating dialogue in an environment where solutions are created, not dictated.
Finding common ground
Family mediation sessions focus on reaching an agreement that works for you, your former partner and any children you have. Our qualified mediators will help you work together to bring your divorce or separation to a conclusion and to consider the arrangements for the children, so that you can continue with the next chapter of your lives as positively as possible.
It is not the role of the mediator to provide legal advice, however our mediators will listen to your circumstances and use their legal knowledge to help you explore options with you, so each party understands the choices available and the risks and implications of each.
Your mediator will remain impartial throughout the process, and after a proposal has been accepted and developed, we will create a ‘memorandum of understanding’, which can form the basis of a legally binding consent order if it concerns money or property.
The benefits of using mediation to separate
Although mediation is not free it is usually a quicker and cheaper way to reach a resolution than going to Court or negotiating through solicitors. The mediation process gives you more control over the decisions that are made regarding your family, and often provides a less stressful way of dealing with sensitive issues. Although you are not legally bound to any course of action, you are often encouraged to incorporate any proposal into a legal document. It also can provide you with a forum to review and adapt arrangements as you and your ex-partner continue living separate lives, particularly in relation to the children. Mediation also helps you communicate with each other and usually leads to a much more constructive relationship in the future which will be beneficial for you and any children involved.
By focusing on clear and open communication, family mediation has the potential to get you and your partner on the same page. And we will support you every step of the way.
Preparing for family mediation
You need to be prepared before you begin the mediation process, particularly when it comes to defining what you hope to achieve from the process. If you are trying to reach a financial agreement, you will be asked to fill out a financial disclosure form, where you will provide information on your income, living costs, debts, property and how much you currently have in your bank accounts. The mediator will explain what is required and arrange the first mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM) where you will meet the mediator on your own. Once both of you have attended a MIAM, we will help you go into your first joint session as prepared as possible.
What happens at family mediation?
The mediation process is about letting both parties state their point of view equally in a calm and constructive atmosphere. The mediator is not there to take sides or give you legal advice. If you have children, they will usually be the focus of conversation as it is vital that both parties reach an agreement that ensures the children’s needs are met. We also have mediators who are trained Child Inclusive Mediators (CIM) who can speak to your children offline and if appropriate, act as the voice of the child in your mediation sessions.
If you can’t reach a resolution through family mediation sessions, we are on hand to suggest the other options open to you, including collaborative law and Court proceedings.
Contact our family mediators today
Speak to a member of our family law team about how mediation could be a constructive and positive solution to your divorce or separation. Contact Lucinda Holliday on +44 (0) 1494 478 603, email ljmh@blasermills.co.uk or fill in our contact form.