What
is Mediation?

In Family Mediation a professional impartial Mediator facilitates a negotiation between two or more people, with an aim to reach full resolution on any disputed issues of family breakdown. Most commonly these fit into one of two categories, either Financial Settlement (on divorce or cohabitation breakdown) or Child Arrangements. Some people need to resolve both issues. There are significant benefits in choosing to mediate, you retain control of the process, its more cost effective than the other options, its usually quicker than a court battle and most importantly it helps to maintain co-parenting relationships where there are children involved.

Our mediators are all Accredited with the Family Mediation Council and are experienced in dealing with complex financial and child arrangements cases.

If you are considering mediation, the process starts with each of you having a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting – sometimes referred to as a MIAM. These meetings are free if you are eligible for legal aid, and if not then it is a fixed fee of £120+VAT. Each MIAM takes around 45 minutes and gives you an opportunity to explain your circumstances, and for a Mediator to help you assess the suitability of mediation. You will be asked a range of questions to ensure that if mediation progresses, it is done in a safe manner, and you will be provided with information about the steps in the process.

If both parties have attended MIAMs and the Mediator has deemed it suitable, then you will be invited to attend mediation sessions to resolve the issues. At Venters Family Mediation we work in a solution focused way to try to keep the number of appointments to a minimum. Most people resolve matters in two or three meetings.

Some of the things you may want to consider before your first meeting include, thinking about your interests and priorities and what you want to achieve from the mediation.  Be prepared to both actively listen to the other party in the mediation and assess any options that are discussed in the mediation process.

Once you have reached a set of joint proposals, the Mediator will draw these up for you, so that you have a record of them. If you wish to make your decisions binding, then the Mediator will explain how to do that.

We have a legal aid contract and so it is worth us assessing if you would qualify for free mediation. If you do not qualify then Mediation costs are charged on an hourly rate for the session time and any document drafting. The charges are based on gross level of income and capital assets. The hourly rate will be discussed with you before starting, with no surprises! You remain in control.

If there are any child arrangements to be resolved then there is a government voucher that will provide £500 towards each mediation case, this is not means tested, and is available to everyone.

The Mediators will provide you with legal information as they guide you through the process, however for many clients it is important at times through the process that they take their own independent advice. The Mediator will always recommend this when they feel it is appropriate.

Yes, if appropriate then your children’s voices can be heard, although they are never asked to take the decisions. We have specially qualified Mediators who are trained to include children in the process if that is what both parents agree to be appropriate. The Mediator will explain more about this option at your MIAM.

At the MIAM the Mediator will talk to you about the dynamics between you and your ex-partner to help assess whether mediation is suitable. If mediation is deemed to be suitable then there is the option for you to have shuttle mediation. This is where you do not see or hear the other person during the mediation process. If mediation is not suitable then the Mediator will explain your other options for resolving a dispute. It is important for the participants to all feel safe and comfortable during the process.

Yes, we offer mediation via zoom or alternatively in person mediation. The fees are the same for both models.

Although most cases are successfully managed in mediation, there are always some cases where either mediation is unsuitable, or one of the parties is unwilling to attend. If you need to go on and apply to the court to resolve matters, then the applicant would usually still need to attend a MIAM so that the Mediator can sign the court form and prove you have given mediation consideration.