Family Mediation
What a breath of fresh air! Completely different to the negative experience we had encountered previously. Sarah Jones took the time to listen to us both without bias. Although as parents we couldn’t agree on everything, with Sarah’s help we accepted the fact that there was no perfect scenario in a break up involving kids. Compromise is needed, in contrast to the negatives a court case brings, we were encouraged to think about the positives each of us had to offer our child and we worked together to come to an arrangement that best suited all of us.
Mediation offers an alternative way to reach decisions about the future of your family without needing to go to court which can be costly, time consuming and acrimonious.
How does the process work?
Each party has an initial separate meeting with a mediator to prepare you for the mediation itself. You will be guided through what will happen during the mediation process and discuss your goals with the mediator.
The mediator will then sit with you both to agree a resolution and help you to make decisions about your family’s future. Mediation means that you are in control of the outcome rather than having a decision imposed upon you which neither of you may want. It is also less acrimonious.
A full exchange of financial information enables you to understand exactly what your position is and what sort of settlement will suit you best. Parenting plans can be part of your agreement and mediation is good opportunity to discuss how arrangements will work for your children.
When you are happy with the proposals and have taken any independent legal advice needed, the mediator will record in detail what has been agreed and this can be made legally binding by solicitors.
Funding Mediation
Legal Aid may be available to pay some or all of the costs. Our mediator will assess eligibility at the outset.
Mediation sessions with our specialist, experienced mediators generally last one and a half to two hours each. The number of sessions depends on the issues involved. Three or four sessions are not uncommon, but more or less may be needed.
Family mediation can take place at any of our offices in Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and Warminster. Farnfields also runs mediation sessions in Yeovil.
If your solicitor has recommended you try mediation or you are a solicitor looking to refer a client, click here to download a referral form or call us on 01747 834209
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