Family mediation week
Family Mediation Week is run by the Family Mediation Council. This year it takes place between 16-20 January. Its’ purpose is to raise awareness of family mediation and the benefits it can bring to separating families.
What is family mediation?
It is a voluntary process whereby the participants appoint a mediator to assist them in reaching an agreement on the issues that have arisen following their divorce / separation. The mediator is a neutral, independent third party and their role is to manage the process in an impartial way.
Advantages of mediation
It is more cost and time effective than court proceedings. For example, mediation can often be concluded in around three months at a cost of a few thousand pounds whereas court proceedings frequently take over a year and can cost up to tens of thousands.
It is a confidential process (save for a very few exceptions) providing participants with a safe and secure environment for their discussions and decision making.
It offers a bespoke process which can be set up and adapted to suit the needs of the participants. They make their own informed decisions meaning that they can be more creative with their agreements, for e.g. to deal with issues that a court would not ordinarily deal with in the context of family law.
Participants often find that the mediation process gives them back some control at a time when they are going through significant life changes and often feeling vulnerable.
Participants often find mediation less stressful than the court process.
Mediation encourages people to look forward rather than backward. People often find that this helps reduce conflict and preserves a healthy relationship going forward which, of course, is particularly important when children are involved.
If you are interested in exploring whether mediation is suitable for your situation, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Rachel Woodd, a partner at the firm, is an accredited mediator with a wealth of experience under her belt, covering all aspects of family law related disputes. She is rated in the Legal 500 for her work as a mediator.
Due to the increasing requests for mediation, we are pleased to be expanding our mediation practice with the addition of Mai-Ling Ho, a senior associate at the firm. She is a Resolution trained mediator dealing with the financial and children related issues which arise upon divorce / separation.