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Family Lawyer and Accredited Family Mediator Are you and your spouse separating? Are you anxious about what this will mean for you and your family? Perhaps you fear that taking steps to formalise your separation will result in increased hostility, or that it will be too expensive.
If so, family mediation may be the solution.
What is family mediation?
Family mediation is where a specially trained family mediator helps a separating couple to talk things through and settle on a proposal for future arrangements for their children, finances or any other issues that arise following their separation.
Visit our main Family Mediation page.
Mediation Solicitor
A mediator cannot advise but, if you choose a family mediator who is also a specialist family solicitor, they will be able to give you detailed information in a neutral way about the legal aspects of relationship breakdown. In this way, the mediation lawyer can assist you to reach financial solutions that can be converted into a legally binding agreement.
Why choose family mediation?
Divorce mediation is not necessarily right for everyone or every situation. However, in most cases, the advantages of family mediation are:
- It gives you more control over the outcome rather than having one imposed on you by the court.
- The costs are usually considerably less than using solicitors as intermediaries.
- It helps you to resolve issues much more quickly, at a pace to suit you.
- It reduces the risk of tension and hostility, which is also beneficial to any children who will see that their parents are working together to resolve their issues.
Do I still need a solicitor if I choose mediation?
The family mediation process is an alternative to a traditional solicitor-led approach to resolving issues arising on separation.
However, mediators do not give legal advice and do not represent individuals. They are there to help both of you work out a plan for the future. Once you and your spouse have finalised proposals through mediation, you will need to see a solicitor if you wish to convert these into a legally binding agreement.
If I have to instruct a solicitor as well, won’t this mean a duplication of costs?
Put simply, no. You are likely to save a great deal of money if you reach a solution through the mediation process rather than paying for a solicitor to conduct negotiations on your behalf. In either case, a solicitor will need ‘to make legal’ the proposals reached.
Will family mediation help me and my family?
Relationship breakdown can be a traumatic experience. Family mediation is a way for you and your spouse to work together to make important decisions about your future, which will help reduce stress levels for everyone concerned.
