Family Mediation Week has highlighted how mediation can enable separating parents avoid court room conflict.
January usually sees a dramatic rise in the number of couples deciding to live apart. Family Mediation is a process that can help ex- partners agree what works for them, whilst avoiding the stress, delay, cost and conflict of court proceedings.
The benefits of mediation are that it:-
Reduces Conflict
With our help, you will be encouraged to find mutually acceptable solutions with the least amount of conflict.
Control
Mediation allows you to retain control of your future and to have your say. You make the arrangements so that they suit your family’s unique circumstances.
Voluntary
No one can be made to attend mediation. You can leave at any time and cannot be pressured into making arrangements that you do not want.
Cost Effective
Mediation is much quicker, less stressful and cheaper than going to court.
Neutral Mediator
The mediator is completely neutral and impartial and will help you have discussions in a constructive way.
Child Focused
Family mediation puts children at the heart of the discussions. It focuses parents on the needs of their children and encourages them to listen to their children’s views and reach joint decisions about their future.
Confidential
Mediation is completely confidential and the conversations that you have cannot be referred to in any subsequent court proceedings.
Changes in the procedural rules that govern the family courts, mean that although judges and magistrates cannot order parties to sort out their problems by non-court means, they will be encouraging parties to engage in mediation and other non-court dispute resolution processes. When assessing who should be responsible for paying for the costs of litigation, they may well make a party who has unreasonably refused either to attend an initial mediation meeting, or to engage in a non-court resolution process, pay the costs of the other party.
For more information about the benefits of mediation please click here:
Please note: During #FamilyMediationWeek there will be a wide variety of free webinars for the public and other professionals working with families (teachers, health practitioners, social workers and more) as well as events for professionals working in Family Justice (lawyers, arbitrators, CAFCASS officers, judiciary and local family justice board members). Please find details here.