The Family Law Mediation Process
Family law mediation is a process whereby family members make decisions themselves rather than going to court.
Family law mediation has traditionally always been a face to face process, however, we work very successfully (and almost entirely) via online video meetings with families across the UK and overseas.
We have office facilities in Brighton and Eastbourne in East Sussex, Tunbridge Wells in Kent and London.
Family Law Mediation Voucher Scheme
The Ministry of Justice is currently providing contributions of up to £500 per family to resolve issues relating to children following parental separation.
Parties using family law mediation need to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) with a mediator who is accredited by the Family Mediation Council. The cost of this session is not covered by the voucher.
The mediator will assess the issues to see if they are suitable for family law mediation and if they meet the eligibility requirements for the voucher scheme. The voucher is intended to be a contribution towards the total cost of family law mediation.
We have signed up to the voucher scheme. Please contact us to find out more.
By taking the family law mediation route, you will typically find that it is cheaper than going to court. It is designed to progress at a speed that suits those attending.
Family law mediation is suitable for dealing with all family issues involving couples, children, grandparents and other family members.
The time and the venue of meetings (including Zoom) are arranged to suit the attendees. The costs of each session are usually shared. The online meetings are very popular due to avoiding the time and hassle of travelling, parking and managing family commitments.
You can either contact a mediator directly or your solicitor can refer you to one. Prior to arranging a joint meeting, the mediator will speak with each party to find out what they would like to achieve through family law mediation.
The mediator will then prepare an agenda for the first joint meeting. At the first joint meeting, attendees discuss the issues in order of priority. It may be that parties need to obtain further information (e.g. financial) before it is possible to make informed decisions.
Online Family Law Mediation
Online family law mediation provides the same benefits as traditional family law mediation with the added advantage of making mediation possible wherever you are in the world (as long as you have a reliable internet connection). Clients will need access to a PC, a tablet, or a laptop with a camera in order to participate in video conference sessions.
Child Inclusive Family Law Mediation
The Family Mediation Council Code of Practice 2018 requires mediators to encourage separating couples to consider their children’s wishes and feelings.
All children and young people aged 10 and above should be offered the opportunity to have their voices heard directly during the family law mediation process.
As a qualified Child Inclusive Mediator, Linda is ideally placed to support the children of separating couples – creating a space in which they are free to express their views to someone neutral.
For further family law mediation information, please read our factsheet or contact us directly.
Hybrid Family Law Mediation
A recent innovation is hybrid family law mediation. Linda was one of the first family lawyers in the UK to train as a hybrid mediator, recognising the significant advantages of this new model.
The hybrid family law mediation process allows the mediator to conduct separate (as well as joint) meetings with the individuals concerned and each party can be supported by their own lawyer.
Hybrid family law mediation is particularly suitable for vulnerable clients and for resolving high-conflict cases. To find out more, please click on our factsheet below.
“Linda is an expert in her field and I would highly recommend her if needing a family law mediation lawyer. Thank you for being patient and calm during very challenging times.”
ENP, Sussex UK, May 2023
Family Law Mediation: A Case Study
Problem
A same sex couple wanted to dissolve their civil partnership. They needed to sort out their finances and the arrangements for their child. One was a high-flying career woman and the other was the main carer.
Solution
They agreed to attend family law mediation to talk through the issues, rather than go to court. The priority for both was the welfare of their child.
One of my key roles was to balance the difference of power between the career woman – savvy about legal issues – and the main carer who felt nervous and disempowered.
So I made sure that she was always fully up to speed with everything we were discussing and that we didn’t use any legal jargon or terms she wouldn’t understand.
Outcome
The civil partnership was dissolved by agreement. The arrangements for the child to see both parents were agreed, with a provision for regular reviews.
The joint property was sold, with both parents having enough funds to buy a home each where their child is able to live or visit.
The parent with the main care is being supported until the child is older and she will be able to resume working full time.
“I sought advice from Linda as I knew we were going down the family law mediation route. Linda clearly knows her subject matter and is very thorough without wasting time on irrelevant issues. She is very empathetic and pleasant to deal with. All of the sessions were online and all advice was followed up in writing shortly after the session. The fees were very reasonable. I have no hesitation in recommending Linda.”
John, Sussex UK, June 2023
