Mediation is a process which is voluntary for all concerned including the mediator. You and your estranged partner may if you wish attend mediation to assess the financial ramifications of separation or divorce for both for you and any impact this may have on your children. Consideration may also be given to sorting out the arrangements for the future care of the children including who they are to live with and how often the other parent shall have contact and you may wish to draw up a parenting plan. The mediator can provide information about a whole host of matters including child maintenance, and how pensions can be divided by a court, as well as assisting you in coming to an agreement about your property and income and how to manage your budget after you have separated or divorced, and how to apply for a divorce.
A mediator is trained to be impartial and to keep all matters discussed in mediation confidential. The only exception to this is in relation to financial information that you both present during the mediation, which could be produced to a court in the future if your case cannot be resolved in mediation, or you are asking the court to approve an agreement you have reached. Finally, any agreement reached is one that you both come to and not one that is imposed upon you. The process is usually a 3 or 4 stage one and you will be given a financial summary of your respective circumstances and a written agreement known as a Memorandum of Understanding. This latter document can be taken to your solicitor for him or her to convert into a legal document which the court can be asked to approve on divorce, or which can become a binding legal agreement on separation.
The mediation process takes the sting out of relationship breakdown and is relatively inexpensive compared to legal proceedings.
If you wish to find out more about this service, please contact Susan Reyersbach on 01252 316316. Susan is a trained family mediator and is a member of the Family Mediators Association.
