FAQ FROM
SOLENT
FAMILY
MEDIATION

Mediation there for those couples who are already separated, or are in the middle of the process of divorcing. It offers you as an individual the chance to talk about and to help resolve issues that can arise from the breakdown of a relationship.

Your solicitor is not required. Many individuals decide to attend mediation sessions on their own. To do so, please call us and we’ll take your details and arrange an appointment that suits you.

You can go through your solicitor if you wish, however mediation is much less stressful. It helps you to make you own decisions about what is right for you. It also tends to be quicker and cheaper than going through your solicitor.

Please don’t hesitate to advise us when you  speak to our mediators on how you feel most comfortable to mediation and we will make arrangements for individual or shuttle mediation if needed.

This initial meeting will only take about 20-45 minutes.

The aim of the first meeting is to explain to you the mediation process and also outline the benefits to you. This appointment is also a chance to assess your individual eligibility for legal aid and help with the cost if you are able to access the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme.

However, if you are not eligible then the charges specific to you will be explained. A payslip will be needed as proof if you wish to be considered for funding.

No, not at all. Mediation is a voluntary process and if you do not wish to continue, please just tell the mediator or administrator and your file with us will be closed.

No. Mediation has to involve both parties and a mediator to discuss any family issues that need to be settled.

Mediation will be arranged as soon as possible after the information meetings. Further mediation sessions will be arranged at a time-scale to suit you both. The sessions take between 1 to 2 hours.

No, however the summary finalised by the mediator can be given to your solicitor to be incorporated into a court order.

Family mediation is a way of helping families to reach agreements regarding what need to happen concerning separation or divorce. It is an increasingly popular choice to asking the court to choose concerning family members issues.

Unlike going to court or settlement, family mediation acknowledges that you are the specialists about your very own family and leaves the decision-making to you.

Unlike working out through your lawyers, family members mediation enables you to talk directly to each other to ensure that you can both explain what you are really feeling as well as what is most important to you. It likewise lets you concentrate on the important things that really matter to you as a family and finding solutions that everyone can agree to. 

Unlike going to court or settlement, family mediation acknowledges that you are the specialists about your very own family and leaves the decision-making to you.

Unlike working out through your lawyers, family members mediation enables you to talk directly to each other to ensure that you can both explain what you are really feeling as well as what is most important to you. It likewise lets you concentrate on the important things that really matter to you as a family.

It can be a challenge if your ex-spouse does not wish to try mediation to reach a settlement when you’re separating. 

It may feel that your option is to go straight to court but that is eventually going to be far more expensive, more complicated as well as take longer. Mediation can only work when both individuals consent to participate however..

If your ex-partner will not agree to mediate initially, you can try asking them to speak to the mediator directly or discussing the options available to find a way they can agree.. This can help prevent the tensions of facing each other. 

When you have chosen to go ahead with Family Mediation, We would need to meet you via an online meeting; this is called a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, (MIAM).

During our meeting, we will discuss with you  if family mediation is the best option for your family disagreements. We will speak with you to explain in more detail what mediation entails, so you will have an understanding of the procedure and the advantages of family mediation.

We will be able to discuss your options regarding financial support , whether you qualify for  legal aid or the family mediation voucher.

If family mediation is not right you, your mediator will explain your alternative options and will able to offer helpful next steps to help you understand your options.

You will be the one to make the decisions in mediation. You and your ex partner know best about your circumstances and you don’t need to leave it to an unfamiliar person in a court to tell you just how your family members will work or just how you will certainly be increasing your youngsters.

 Mediation is a lot more economical than dealing with in court. Mediation is also a lot less stressful than fighting in court.

There may be situations where things have broken down between you and your ex partner so much that you do not feel that you cannot even see them, we are able to offer a shuttle mediation option where you will be in a separate online call with your mediator from your ex partner and the mediator will “shuttle” between you to carry out discussions. 

No. Mediation is a two-way process that includes both parties and a mediator(s) reviewing any one of the family members concerns that need to be worked out.

Yes, mediation is confidential. During the mediation process, all discussions, negotiations, and any documents shared are kept private and cannot be disclosed without the consent of all parties involved. This confidentiality encourages open and honest communication, allowing participants to freely discuss their concerns and explore potential solutions without fear that their words will be used against them later in court

A MIAM is a Mediation Information as well as Assessment Meeting. It is the very first meeting in between client and family mediator, and also gives the mediator the chance to discover and understand what the objectives are and also to describe exactly how the mediation procedure works.

Mediation includes a neutral third party who will listen to your dispute and help you come to solutions that everyone can agree on. In mediation we will not issue judgement or make decisions for you, mediation allows you to work out with each other to come up with a arrangements which works for everyone.