Mediation Solicitors

What is family mediation?
Family mediation is a process where a neutral third party, known as a mediator, helps family members in conflict to communicate, negotiate, and resolve issues in a constructive manner. It’s commonly used for various family disputes such as divorce, child custody arrangements, property division, or disagreements between parents and children. Mediators facilitate discussions, encourage understanding, and assist in finding mutually acceptable solutions without taking sides or making decisions for the family. The goal is to reach agreements that work for everyone involved while promoting better communication and minimizing conflict.

What can I use family mediation for?
Family mediation can be used for various purposes within family dynamics, including:

• Divorce or Separation
• Parenting Plans
• Family Conflict Resolution
• Estate Planning & Inheritance
• Communication Improvement
• Blended Families

Family mediation offers a way to resolve disputes without hefty legal expenses or prolonged courtroom battles. Professional mediators specialize in guiding discussions, especially when relationships have ended or when there’s a need to address matters after a separation. They focus on finding agreements between parties without aiming to reconcile former partners. Mediators attentively listen to both sides, aiding in reaching mutual understandings and agreements by facilitating constructive communication between ex-partners.

How does Mediation work?
It does not matter if you are bringing or defending a claim, you will need both sides willing to see if agreement can be achieved using Mediation.

Whether it is Business Mediation or Mediation over a Will or Probate, the process is where a third party appointed by both sides works to facilitate an agreement on how both can bring the case to an end. The decisions are all made by the parties themselves with the assistance of the Mediator, so the control of what is and is not agreed is fully in your hands. The Mediator does not give legal advice and does not make any final decision.

In the Court process the final decision is made by the Judge and that is binding on the parties, even if neither side is particularly happy with the outcome.

How much does mediation cost?
Both sides share the cost of the Mediator on a 50/50 basis. If you have solicitors and want them to assist you in the Mediation, you pay their costs yourself.

Mediation is a much faster and cheaper option than going to court. Mediation has been around a long time and before the recent lockdown would be carried out at an agreed venue (a solicitors or a hotel, but not at court) with each side in separate rooms and the Mediator shuttling between you helping you find that compromise acceptable to you both.

If agreement is reached, that will be written down there and then, signed by both sides and can then be sent to the Court to be sealed. It will have the same authority as any other Court Order and as long as the agreed terms are then carried out, it brings the formal Court case to an end.