COURT ISN’T THE ONLY OPTION
People often believe that issues arising from separation such as divorce, financial matters and child arrangements can only be resolved through Court proceedings. Family Mediation Week aims to raise awareness of the mediation process and the benefits of attempting mediation to resolve these issues in an amicable, less expensive and constructive way. It allows the parties to be in control of their situation and seek an agreement that works best for them.
THE PROCESS OF MEDIATION
At Ramsdens we can recommend Mediators in your local area to commence the Mediation process.
Initially, the Mediator will arrange a meeting known as a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM) which you would attend on your own. The Mediator will explain the mediation process to you and will determine whether or not you are suitable to engage in the mediation process as well as explaining the costs involved to you.
Once you and your former partner have both attended a MIAM individually, if the mediator agrees that you are both suitable for mediation then a joint session will be arranged to enable you to attend together (virtually) and try to resolve the issues. Often a number of meetings are scheduled to address and hopefully resolve all the issues you may have.
If you do not wish to sit in the same room as your spouse or partner then shuttle mediation is an option which still enables the process to take place however you sit in separate rooms and the mediator goes between the rooms outlining what the other party has said however currently, given the lockdown restrictions, mediation can take place virtually (and shuttle services are still available).
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A MEDIATOR?
A Mediator is a neutral party who assists in resolving the disputes between both parties. It is important to note that a Mediator cannot offer legal advice at mediation meetings and therefore we recommend that you do seek legal advice before Mediation to ensure that you understand your options.
It is also important to note that if you reach an agreement regarding financial matters during the Mediation process you should seek legal advice from a Solicitor to ensure the agreement is drawn up into a legally binding document to prevent any future financial claims which may arise.
At Ramsdens, we can offer support and advice before, during and after the Mediation process.
CONTACT US
To see how Ramsdens can help you, call our Family team on 08000 147720 or send us an email to book a free 30 minute telephone consultation with any of our team based across Yorkshire.