Family Mediation & Arbitration Solicitors

Family mediators do not give legal advice around money and property issues. However, they can provide information to couples about the legal processes and the general principles that the court would follow in relation to:

• Children – arranging child maintenance payments, for example
• Property – mortgage payments
• Money – savings, pensions, debts etc.

It’s expected that before and during the family mediation both parties will give each other a clear picture of their respective financial position. This will not only help resolve issues around money and property, but also will help each side to better understand the other’s background and standing.

Choosing a family mediation service should be considered when both of you:

• Have a genuine desire to talk and settle your dispute
• Expect to remain in contact after the process
• Want to make arrangements about your children’s future as they grow up
• Wish to resolve your issues without going to court

At the start of a family mediation meeting, the mediator will speak to each person on the telephone or on a video call. If you’re both happy that this is the most suitable process, an initial appointment will be arranged.

Most negotiations tend to focus on the care of children or financial affairs, but each family is unique, and we adapt to suit your individual needs. We advise on a consultancy basis, which normally equates to approximately five or six sessions – though it may be more or fewer, depending on the issues being discussed.

During these sessions, the family mediator, you and your (former) partner will sit together, whether in person or over video, to discuss your options.

If, after discussions, arrangements have been reached or both of you decide on certain options, for example, about where your children will live and what time they will spend with each of their parents, a confirmatory mediation document will be drawn up.

Unless you wish to obtain a Court Order about the arrangements for your children, there’s usually no need. If arrangements have been reached about money and property, then it’s always the case that you should have any agreement recorded in a Court Order, known as a Consent Order. This will be explained to the couple during the mediation.

Mediation information & assessment meeting

This is the first meeting with an accredited mediator, where both parties will have the chance to ask questions. The mediator will outline how it will work, explain how many sessions may be needed, their cost and give details of any support services to use throughout the process.

Information gathering

During the first full session, the mediator will ask both you and your (former) partner to tell your side of the story and then ask you some questions. This will help both of you to explain your standpoint and give the mediator more information about the situation, helping them resolve the issues being discussed.

Identifying key issues

The mediator will take these learnings to try and identify the issues that are causing friction. They’ll look to frame these as common goals for both parties to work towards, where smaller issues may be resolved first, to eventually settle larger ones later.