How does mediation work?

Mediation is about the practical and legal arrangements you and your partner make about your children and/or your property. It is a way of settling disputes after your marriage or relationship breaks down.

Both parties are offered an initial appointment, on a one-to-one basis, to determine the suitability of your case, for mediation and to assess whether you may be eligible to receive your mediation for free. At this meeting we will also explain to you the process and principles of mediation which will hopefully allow you to make an informed decision about whether you wish to enter into the mediation process.

If both parties agree to enter into the mediation process, an appointment will be made where the mediator meets with you both together in one and half hour sessions until the process is complete.

Upon agreement/proposals being reached, the Mediator will draw up a “Memorandum of Understanding’ or a ‘Summary Letter’. You may each take a copy of these proposals reflected in your Memorandum of Understanding or Summary Letter and a copy of your Open Statements of Financial Information to your respective solicitors for their comments, before it is submitted to the court in the form of a “consent order”. If it is appropriate to do so, the court will make orders confirming your arrangements.

Unfortunately, on some occasions mediation breaks down for various reasons. When this happens the parties’ solicitors are informed. If either party is in receipt of public funding we provide their solicitors with the forms they will require in order to enable them to assist in applying for further public funding. If parties are not in receipt of public funding, therefore a ‘Private Client’, we will charge £25.00 plus vat to endorse the forms the parties’ solicitors may require in order to enable them to assist them further.

Of the small number of mediations that do break down, couples are always given the option to return to the process at any time in the future.