What is Family Mediation?
Family mediation is a process where parties in a dispute meet with an impartial third party to resolve their case without the need for a judge to make the decision for them. It is generally quicker and more cost-effective than a court proceeding. A settlement reached in mediation is more likely to be honoured because it is an agreement you agree to rather than one that is imposed on you by the court.
The mediator will ask you to provide all relevant information before the sessions start so they have a good understanding of what is being disputed. They may also ask you to attend separate meetings with the mediator as well as joint sessions so that they have a clear picture of the situation and your perspective within it. They will also often ask to meet with your children (if you have any) to get their view of the situation as well. In some cases the mediator will also suggest that you seek tax advice, pension expertise or financial planning as part of the mediation so that you can understand the full range of consequences of any resolution you might reach.
Sometimes discussions in a family mediation can become heated but the mediator is trained to help keep the discussion productive and on track so that you can reach an agreement that addresses all of the issues raised. The goal is to reach a solution that balances everyone’s interests and provides a healthy basis for future interaction.https://yorkshire.lakesmediation.co.uk/