Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process helping couples who have decided to separate or divorce, make arrangements for their future. A Mediator is neutral and will not give legal advice or make decisions for you.
Our Mediators at Phillips can provide you with legal information and help you to identify the issues you need to resolve. We will also help you to consider different arrangements and test the practicality of those arrangements to ensure that they work for your family.
Whether you are a married or an unmarried couple, separated or still living together, parents or another family member (such as a Grandparent), mediation can help you to:
Decide terms for separation/divorce;
Make arrangements for your children;
Make financial provision for yourselves and/or children;
Decide how the family home and other property and assets should be shared.
Mediation:
Reduces conflict and tension;
Improves communication, understanding and co-operation;
Allows you to make decisions together according to your particular circumstances;
Keeps you moving forwards at your own pace;
Is swifter, more cost effective and less stressful than court proceedings;
Can be done alongside individual legal advice;
At Phillips our Mediators will help you achieve forward momentum. . We invest ourselves in the process and help you reach your goals. We make experienced interventions to keep your conversations on track and provide relevant information.
Mediation is ideal for those who need help to keep moving forward but who are open to having discussions and trying to reach compromise.
If you are interested in instructing one of our Mediators, please contact Phillips or you can be referred via our solicitor.
Step one is for us to contact each of you individually to provide initial information about the mediation process and answer any questions you may have.
Step two is to book you into a 45-minute one-to-one meeting, also known as a ‘Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.’ Prior to this there will be a short form to fill in. In this meeting we will take background information and speak to you in more detail about the Mediation process so that you can decide if it is appropriate for you. You are under no obligation to commence mediation sessions after this meeting but if each of you is willing to proceed you can go onto step three below.
Step three is to commence mediation meetings which can be face to face or online. Prior to this you will each be asked to gather your financial information via a Form E and to list your expenses. For the mediation sessions it is possible to sit separate spaces if necessary and the Mediator will go betweens you as an intermediary. Most people opt to have the ir sessions in the same space. There is the opportunity to pause the meeting if needed. Depending on the complexity of the discussions, the average number of Mediation sessions is 2-4.
Step 4 is for you to receive an Open financial Statement which consolidates the financial information you have shared with one another in Mediation and a Memorandum of Understanding that documents the outcomes of your Mediation sessions.
Trying to reach an agreement over parenting arrangements and financial matters after a separation or divorce can be tough. Family Mediation may be the answer for you and your family.
Family Mediation provides impartial support in a neutral venue to enable you to reach a compromise with your ex-partner or spouse. It is flexible, intended to fit around you and we can offer face to face or virtual mediation, depending on your circumstances.
You will find more information about Family Mediation below but to discuss how we can help you, please call on 01256 460830 or email us at [email protected]
Family Mediation has many advantages, including:
- Mediation can work around you and can take place in person or by Zoom
- It is normally quicker and cheaper than Court proceedings
- The Mediator is impartial. Their role is to help you reach an agreement
- You reach an agreement rather than have a decision imposed on you by a Judge
- Mediation can be less stressful than Court
- Your Family Law Solicitor can help you convert your mediated Agreement into a binding Court Order
To discuss how Mediation can help your family, call our specialist Family Mediation team.
Family Mediation can help resolve a whole range of Family Law related issues, whatever the legal status of your relationship. It can also be used at any stage of a dispute including:
- At the time of, or soon after separation.
- During Court proceedings if both parties and the Court agree.
- If further difficulties arise in the future; there are no restrictions on how many times you can attend Family Mediation.
There are some situations in which Family Mediation is not suitable. This might be because you are concerned about an urgent risk to your children or you fear that the other party is selling assets to defeat your claims.
If you have experienced domestic abuse in your relationship, then Family Mediation may not be appropriate unless arrangements can be made to ensure that everyone is kept safe within the process. This could include by using Shuttle Mediation.
What can Family Mediation Resolve?
Family Mediation can be used in a whole range of Family Law situations, including:
- Arrangements for your children
- Relocation of children overseas or out of the area with one parent when the other parent does not agree.
- Specific children related issues such as whether children should be privately educated and the choice of school.
- The arrangements for children to see their grandparents or other family members
- Issues are parental responsibility and decision-making.
- Financial settlements after the end of an unmarried relationship including property ownership and claims for housing where there are dependent children.
- Financial settlements after the end of a marriage or civil partnership including the future of the family home, pensions, business assets, other property and arrangements for spousal maintenance.
- Family relationship agreements such as Cohabitation Agreements, Pre-Nuptial Agreements and Separation Agreements.
If you are not sure if Family Mediation can help you, talk to one of our Family Mediators.
What is a MIAM?
- A Mediation, Information and Assessment Meeting, also called a MIAM, is the first meeting that you will have with the Family Mediator. You will meet the Mediator by yourself to discuss your aims and so that the Mediator can assess whether Mediation is suitable.
- If Mediation does not go ahead beyond this meeting or breaks down once it has started, our accredited Mediator will be able to provide you with the ‘mediation certificate that you will need to support an application to the Court. Please ask our Mediators about this if you think it might apply to you.
Our Fees
We will offer you a fixed fee for each meeting with a Mediator and each participant will pay their own fees, unless they agree otherwise. This fee includes a brief outcome summary of each joint session.
Additional work that you ask us to complete between meetings and the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding and/or Parenting Plan will be charged based upon the Mediator’s hourly rate and this will be discussed further with you at the time.
More details about our fees and the process will be set out in our Agreement to Mediate which you will be asked to sign before mediation begins.
How to get in contact
Our Family Mediators and Family Law Solicitors are on hand to provide expert advice and assist you wherever you are based. Please call us for a no-obligation, initial discussion to discuss your requirements on 01256 460830 or email [email protected].
Our offices are based in Basingstoke and we assist clients across the country.
Haymarket Family Mediation is a part of Phillips Solicitors.
Please call us or email and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
We aim to keep legal jargon to a minimum and guide you through the process in a manner that is easy to understand.
Our highly-skilled solicitors offer tailored, strategic solutions to even the most complex matters, ensuring you receive the guidance and support you need.
We will be by your side throughout every stage of the process and will provide you with regular updates and advice along the way.
We communicate thoroughly with you from the outset to ensure that we fully understand your individual needs. This allows us to accurately quote for your matter leaving you without any unexpected surprises and fees further down the line.
We provide our clients with a concise and transparent breakdown of costs from the outset of the matter and throughout any subsequent stages. This enables you to build faith and trust in us early on to form a lasting relationship.
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