About Family Mediation
Why choose family mediation?
Family Mediation provides a safe, confidential, legally-privileged space for separating couples (or other family members) to work together to make some of the most important decisions of their lives at a time where communication can be incredibly challenging, or may even feel impossible. The proposals that participants make together in mediation (whether about child arrangements, finances or both) can then be provided in a formal report for your legal representatives, so that your proposals can inform legally-binding agreements or court orders.
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Family Mediation is a cheaper, calmer and quicker alternative to traditional communications between solicitors, and mediation also helps avoid the huge costs (both financially and emotionally) of going to court. Family Mediation can also be used in combination with the court process where appropriate.
Mediators work alongside the legal advisors for all involved in order to help participants come to joint, legally-advised decisions.
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Family Mediation is not suitable or beneficial for every case, but this is carefully assessed at the start of the process, with clear guidelines given about the other options available and signposting to related support. See our Process page for more on this.
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Using Family Mediation is an ideal way to reduce conflict, reduce costs, ensure a focus on the needs of any children involved, and retain control in a situation that can often feel very disorientating. It gives you both a safe, confidential space to discuss your concerns, needs and ideas, and even to consider new options, before making any joint decisions. The reports that are produced are yours, for you present to your legal advisors for legal advice if you wish. Mediators do not write reports for court. Family Mediators have an understanding of family law and although they cannot advise either of you legally, they can give you information about how the family law process works. They will guide you in how to work with this information, with legal advice you each obtain, and with your own thoughts, to find some realistic joint proposals that you both feel are the best they can be for your family’s next steps.
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Click here to visit 'Advicenow', where you can find out more about Family Mediation and why you might want to consider it.
Who is it for?
​Family Mediation is predominantly used by people who are divorcing or separating, to help them make decisions about child arrangements or finances, or both. It is sometimes used by co-parents many years following a separation, when life brings new challenges that affect child arrangements or other extended family issues. Other family members, parents or guardians also may use mediation when there are other decisions or communication issues around children or finances that are causing difficulties. In all cases, mediation is a way to avoid high legal costs, and the time and emotional upheaval that can accompany traditional legal routes.