Family Mediation Services
Mediation is a voluntary process that many couples find very helpful in dealing with the breakdown of their relationship without going to court.
If you and your ex (whether previously married, living together, a same sex or heterosexual couple) struggle to talk together on your own, but want to reach agreed decisions about the practical issues that arise on separation, mediation may be the right option for you.
Mediation is not counselling. It is focused on helping you reach decisions about practical issues, such as finding the best pattern of care for your children, and the financial arrangement which is most acceptable to you both.
In mediation, you will both sit in the room with the mediator, whose job it is to be a neutral facilitator of your negotiations. The mediator does not impose decisions on you.
The process is not an easy one, since it can be very painful to sit and listen to someone you feel angry or bitter towards. It is not suitable for anyone who is afraid of their former partner.
However, the reason many people find mediation of use is that it is not handing over the power to make important decisions to lawyers and to the judges who do not know you or your children. You jointly make those decisions. This can be particularly important for your children – you may have stopped being in an intimate relationship with each other, but will have a lifetime relationship of being co-parents. Children find the burden of seeing their parents fighting over them very difficult to bear, and telling them that the decisions have been made by agreement between you can be the most important thing you do for them.
We offer mediation to all of our clients, and are happy to discuss with you whether it is suitable for you.
Many of the senior solicitors of this firm are trained mediators. Caroline Falkus is our most experienced mediator, having worked as a mediator for several years and with many clients.
