MEDIATION
MADE
SIMPLE

mediation made simple

Mediation Made Simple - BOOK A MIAM

Family mediation is a type of mediation or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) where an independent and trained professional (mediator) takes the parties involved through the process of solving family problems facing them.

Issues that a mediation session can help with include child access, shared parenting, and sharing of assets and debts. It is non-confrontational and progressive in nature.

Creating a comprehensive parenting plan through family mediation can be a constructive way to address the needs of young people and ensure their wellbeing. A written parenting plan, often developed using a parenting plan template, outlines key aspects such as school holidays, extracurricular activities, and special occasions like Christmas and Father’s Day. During mediation, family members, including the ex-partner, discuss practical issues and form a written agreement that covers health care, child care, and legal custody arrangements, including joint legal custody if applicable.


Family mediation is based on transparency, mutual respect and working toward finding solutions that everyone can agree on.  Email our mediators below to arrange a callback.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FAMILY MEDIATION?

Family mediation gives the parties more control of the mediation process, this reduces tension and conflict because it aims to help you feel in control and that your input has a direct impact in the outcome. Another benefit is that the children are not exposed to a vigorous court proceedings that can negatively affect them both emotionally and psychologically.

Moreover, family mediation aims at improving the relationships in a way that you can still mutually engage in a healthy way moving forward even if you decide to separate.

It should be noted that even if you and your partner decide to separate, the welfare of the child rely on parents maintaining a good relationship that will help them communicate and discuss various issues around the children moving forward

Long-drawn battles between the parents can further alienate the children and will not help the children.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF FAMILY MEDIATION OVER THE COURT PROCESS?

The court process is an adversarial process. This means that each party’s  goal is to win, meaning that unfortunatly there is a 

However family mediation provides an atmosphere of mutual dialogue and agreement to find a solution that everyone can agree to.

The court process can be intimidating with the presence of the judge and a legal team. Moreover, the language used in the court environment is a legal jargon which can be complex and intimidating if not frustrating.

Court usually denies you the chance to make an independent contribution that is not influenced by external factors. In some cases, the court process c will lead to deep rooted grudges among the whole family.

In a family mediation case, from the first meeting parties are at able to have the freedom to discuss the issues that need to be resolved and to only to only share what they are comfortable with.

Solent Family Mediation Service usually takes a shorter time and requires simpler documentation than court, it saves a considerable amount of money when compared to court and hopes to find a solution to your issues that works for  everyone. 

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MEDIATION IN GENERAL AND THE MEDIATOR IN PARTICULAR?

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where an impartial third party helps disputing parties communicate and negotiate to reach a mutually acceptable solution. In family disputes, mediation aims to promote respectful communication by encouraging open dialogue and understanding between parties., it aims to protect and support the well-being of children: Mediators prioritise the needs and interests of children involve and help parents work together to create effective co-parenting plans.

Mediation helps avoid the emotional stress often associated with family conflicts and your mediator aims to help everyone express their concerns and listen to each other, they remain impartial and do not take sides but create a space where parties feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues.

Mediation can be a powerful tool for resolving family disputes amicably and constructively. If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!

Confidential
Principles of practice in family mediation lay an emphasis on confidentiality in handling personal information of others.

This also helps the various parties to carry out mutual disclosure of sensitive information that may have a bearing on the outcome of mediation.
Confidentiality plays a crucial role in the mediation process and is backed by a confidentiality statement as well as a mediation policy.
Fair Finances
In discussions over finances, parties are under an obligation to honestly disclose their financial information.
In addition to that, it will be useful to the court during the process of obtaining a formal consent court order.

Should the family mediation fail, and the parties decide to go to the court, financial information that was disclosed and assessed during the mediation process can be used to expedite the court process.
Mediation Questions Answered

Agreements made during the mediation process are “without prejudice”. This means that disclosure of agreements during the mediation process can only be made to the court only with the approval of the partners.

However, an exceptional case is where the child faces a serious risk and the intervention of the court is required in order to ensure the welfare of the child or children and consequently safeguard their interest.

The initial Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is used to help you assess whether the mediation is suitable for you. At this stage, you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with the mediation or not.

Should it be agreed that mediation is the right choice, a joint online meeting is held with both partners. This is the opportunity where everyone has a chance to discuss their issues and work to find solutions to conversations such as child access or financial discussions following separation and divorce Further sessions may be made depending on the progress made in the initial meeting and the conversations everyone feels that still need to be covered.

Lastly, the conclusive stage is reached where an agreement is made between parties. In most cases, a deal is reached through a Memorandum of Understanding.

The cost of mediation is often cheaper than the court process. The initial mediation meeting (MIAM) will cost you from £120 upward (exclusive of VAT). Furthermore, subsequent meetings carry a reasonable charge, the family mediation process does not incur hidden costs. In fact it is much easier to approximate how much the mediation will cost you based on the sessions proposed and the magnitude of your case.

In summary, the following are the charges incurred by our agency in a family mediation proceeding: The Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) will cost you from £120.00, FM1 for court purposes will cost you £60.

Mediation meetings will cost you from £120 per person per hour, preparation of open statement of financial information will cost you £60 per person, the preparation of parenting plan will cost you £60 per hour per person, and the preparation of a memorandum of understanding will cost you £60 per person

This largely depends on the various dynamics shaping the family problem and the cooperation of the parties. The higher the cooperation of each party involved, the shorter the mediation process and the quicker a resolution is reached. Generally, each session lasts one and a half to two hours.

Solent Family Mediation mediators provide outstanding service in the field of family law to both legal aid and private clients. Our many years of experience in family cases gives it is competitive edge in the service of new clients.

Our culture of teamwork ensures that we are able to offer mediation quickly should you require support fast. Our firm follows a professional code of ethics in its interaction with clients thereby enabling it to guarantee the privacy and confidentiality of the clients.

Solent Family Mediation offers its clients numerous options and services. We give everyone the time space to make their own decisions concerning a partner, property, and child or children, With highly qualified mediators, cost-effective services, fast appointment options, and comprehensive assistance at any stage during the mediation process, choosing Solent Family Mediation means that you are in safe hands to find the solutions you need.

Contact a mediator today on 02381 611 051, or through the website’s contact page.