What is Family Mediation?

Will the Mediator be able to advise me like a Solicitor?

What are the benefits of using a Solicitor Mediator if you cannot advise me?

Will I have to sit in the same room as my ex partner?

Difficult as it sounds, it is likely to be far more productive if we all sit in the same room. The Mediator is there to manage the mediation process and ensure as far as possible that you are both on an equal footing, that you do not feel pressured into accepting proposals and that you have all relevant information to make informed decisions.

How much does it cost?

I charge the same rate as a Mediator as I do for my work as a Solicitor. However, you and your partner will share this between you and so in fact it will cost you half as much.

A mediation session lasts around an hour and a half usually - although the first joint meeting may be shorter if you want primariy to discuss finances and not all your financial documentation is available to go through together at that stage.

You will probably need three sessions at an overall cost of around £450 per person. At the conclusion of each the meetings I will prepare a summary of your proposals or agreement and this is likely to cost around £150 in total per person.

All in all that is £600 each. Compared to the cost of fully contested court proceedings for a financial order/ancillary relief - which are on average at least £8,000 each - this makes mediation a very economical way of resolving issues on separation.

Similarly contested applications to court over children such as contact and residence proceedings are likely to costs many thousands of pounds. But cost is not the only advantage of mediation where children are concerned. Court orders are inflexible and 80% of people who apply to court for an order relating to children report dissatisfaction with the outcome.

Mediation as an alternative way to resolve family related disputes has emotional as well as cost benefits and leads to overall more flexible and workable arrangements.

How do I arrange a meeting?

Call us and we will talk you through the procedure. It is often easier than you think to set up mediation. We will send you a short information form to fill in about your aims and we will contact your ex-partner to enquire whether he/she is willing to come and see us free of charge to discuss options.