Mediation is a process by which an independent third party (the mediator) helps couples who are separating or separated to reach decisions about how they are going to achieve the best settlement of any outstanding issues. You can use mediation whether you are married or not and you can use mediation at any stage in your relationship whether you are living together or separated. Stephensons can offer a qualified MIAM trained mediator on all family issues such as divorce, finances and children*.
A mediator can help you to negotiate with your former partner about children issues and about any financial dispute between you. Under the new Family Proceedings Rules, mediation is compulsory for those applying to the Court, however we can also provide mediation if no proceedings are intended to be issued.
The process of mediation
The advantage of mediation is that you reach the decisions yourselves, our mediator Charlotte Faid cannot impose settlements upon you. Therefore you can feel that the settlement reached is right for you in all your circumstances. Mediation can also establish or re-establish communication with your former partner, so that you are able to discuss issues in the future should the need arise without any of the animosity and bad feeling that can follow the breakdown of a relationship.
There is a charge for mediation, if you would like to enquire about mediation with our family mediator please complete our online mediation referral form.
If you are on a low income and do not have much in the way of savings or other capital then you may be eligible for Community Legal Services funding to cover the costs of mediation. Our family solicitors will be pleased to advise you as to whether or not you are eligible.
Mediation takes place in a private room with yourself and the other party together with one or sometimes two co-mediators. The sessions usually last about an hour each and dependent upon how complicated your issues are, may take from two to five sessions.
Post mediation
At the end of the mediation process, you should feel that there has been no ‘winner’ or ‘loser’ but that together you have arrived at a satisfactory arrangement that suits both of you. Our mediator will provide you with a summary of all the information provided and the outcome including any agreements reached. If you wish to have the agreement embodied into a formal document then one of our family solicitors would be happy to assist.
Mediation is confidential and what has been discussed in mediation cannot be divulged without written consent of both parties unless it appears to the mediator that a child or adult has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm. The mediator would then have to ensure that the police or social services are informed.
What you say in mediation cannot later be used in Court if mediation breaks down.
If, having considered the options, you feel that mediation is right for you, please complete the enquiry form and our mediator will be in touch.
* We are MIAM trained, however we are not yet able to complete the form FM1.
