Family Mediation

Mediation is an alternative method for dealing with financial and children disputes over divorce or separation without parties having to go through the courts.

Mediation is not a reconciliation process but a process where parties can resolve issues arising as a result of their separation, which they cannot agree on such as:

Finances
Who the children will reside with
How contact between the children and the non-resident parent will take place

Due to recent changes in family law which come into effect in April 2013, parties will be required to attend mediation and provide evidence that they have done so and that it has failed before they can issue an application to the courts.

We at Grazing Hill Law Partners have trained family mediators who can assist you through this process during a stressful period in your life. Our trained family mediator is impartial and will meet with you and your former partner in order to assist and facilitate and agreement on contentious issues. The first meeting is called a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM)

In the event that you and your former partner are able to reach an agreement, the mediator will prepare an agreement called a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will then be converted into a legally binding document by your solicitors if you and your former partner are happy with the contents of the agreement.

However, if after meeting with you and your former partner, the mediator believes that the matter is not suitable for mediation, the mediator will provide you or your solicitor with a mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) form which you or your solicitor will attach to your application to the court whilst issuing court proceedings.

It provides an environment for parties to communicate better and express themselves and discuss matters with a neutral, impartial person

It is less expensive than going through the court process
Parties can dictate at what pace they want matters to proceed and do not have to rely on the court's timetable
Both parties and the children are happier when the outcome is agreed by both sides as opposed to being ordered by the court

We are able to provide appointments at short notice and offer competitive rates.