When you separate there are often issues that are difficult to talk about but need to be sorted out, such as arrangements for your children, financial arrangements and what will happen to the family home.
Left unresolved, problems can escalate and lead to bitterness, high legal costs and wasted time. Using family mediation can help you find an amicable solution, keep your legal costs down and help you find strategies to deal with situations as they arise in the future.
Research has shown that agreements reached outside court are felt to be more satisfactory by the people involved and have a much greater chance of succeeding in the longer term.
- What does the mediator
do?
Your mediator has a particular role in helping you find agreement:
- They will make sure you are both able to express your views
- They will help you generate options and ideas about how to resolve the situation
- They will explore ideas with you to help you decide what works best for your family
- They are impartial and do not represent the interests of either party
- They do not give legal advice - but can help you find the advice you need
- How long does
mediation take?
For issues solely about children or property and finance we might hold around
3 meetings (excluding your pre-mediation meeting).
For mediation about all issues (children, property and finance) we might
hold around 5 meetings (excluding your pre-mediation meeting).
Your mediation might be longer or shorter but we will make sure that you
have the time needed to resolve the issues.
When you start mediation your mediator will be able to give you a guide
as to how long mediation may take and an estimate of the cost.
