Mediation
What is Family Mediation?
Mediation is available at Alsager, Crewe, Congleton, Market Drayton, Nantwich, Newcastle, Sandbach, Stoke, Tarporley, Whitchurch and Winsford.
Please click here to fill in our online mediation enquiry form.
A trained Mediator helps you resolve issues.
Generally you both meet the mediator together, although separate rooms are available.
The mediator remains neutral.
- Mediation
- Informal
- Quicker
- Cheaper
It is usually quicker and cheaper than going to court
It is useful to have legal advice from your solicitor too
The discussions are confidential
You can easily contact us to arrange mediation.
Who is mediation for?
Mediation is for anyone who needs to resolve an issue with another family member.
Couples can use mediation to try to resolve issues about their children, finances or property. Mediation can be used prior to, during or after a separation or divorce.
Other family members, such as grandparents, can also use mediation.
What are the advantages of mediation?
Agreeing things at mediation avoids the stress of court proceedings.
It is usually quicker and cheaper to resolve an issue through mediation than through litigation.
An agreement reached by both of you is more likely to be acceptable to you both than a decision made by a court and is more likely to last.
What will mediation cost?
For more Information about the cost of mediation see our charges for Mediation.
What happens at mediation?
Initially, you will attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting – there will be a separate meeting for each of you. In the meeting the mediator will explain the process and assess whether mediation is suitable and if you are eligible for legal aid.
We will then arrange a date for a joint meeting if you both want to come to mediation to try to resolve the issues. The meeting is a confidential round table discussion lasting around one and a half hours.
There are usually between 2 and five meetings in total.
At the first mediation meeting:
Usually, you both meet with the mediator together. If you are anxious about meeting your partner we can arrange separate arrival times and separate meeting rooms.
You can raise anything that is of immediate concern to either or both of you.
If there are financial issues to resolve you can talk about how information about these issues is to be provided.
Dates of future meetings can also be arranged.
At further mediation meetings:
At further meetings you will be able to discuss the issues in more detail.
Arrangements for the children can be discussed and options explored.
Financial information will be exchanged and you will both be able to consider the options for resolving issues about finances and property.
The mediator may suggest other help, such as financial advice or support for your children. If you both agree, the mediator may meet with the children so that their views can be heard.
Between mediation meetings you may each find it helpful to meet with your own solicitor for advice.
Finalising the proposals:
Once you have agreed on proposals that you both find acceptable the mediator will prepare a summary of the proposals and a summary of the financial information. This will be sent to both of you.
You can each discuss the proposals with your solicitor and obtain their advice.
If you are both still happy with the proposals, your solicitors will convert the summary into a legally binding document and carry out any necessary implementation.