Top five benefits of mediation

1.Costs

If you and your former partner are able to resolve matters by way of mediation, then you will incur far less in legal costs than if you were involved in court proceedings or if you have protracted negotiations through solicitors.  Mediation costs vary but as a broad estimate if you have three joint sessions of mediation the costs are likely to be in the region of £1,000 – £1,500 each.  This is far less than the legal costs you are likely to incur if solicitors negotiate a settlement and significantly less than if you go to court.

2.Time

It is not uncommon for court proceedings to take a year or more before being finalised. Mediation can be concluded in a matter of weeks at times, with you each able to agree the frequency of the sessions and find a timetable that works for you rather than one that is imposed on you.

3.Better working relationship going forwards

For many separating couples who have children together they need to still communicate with each other long after the agreement has been reached. A mediated settlement that addresses all parties’ interests has a far greater prospect of preserving a working relationship than if you have had to go through what is often a stressful and adversarial court process.

4.Opportunity to be directly involved and influence the outcomes

Those who reach an agreement through mediation are able to be directly involved in the discussions about those outcomes, to help shape and influence them in a way that is not possible in court based outcomes where a Judge will ultimately make the decision for them.

5.Lasting Agreements that will be complied with

Parties who have reached their own agreement in mediation are also generally more likely to follow through and comply with its terms than those whose resolution has been imposed by a third party decision-maker.

If you have any queries about this article please contact jonesnickolds on 0203 405 2300 or contact@jonesnickolds.co.uk