Family mediation is fast becoming the most popular method by which people are choosing to resolve family disputes.
Global Mediation can help you to resolve differences in respect of all kinds of family situations: divorce, separation, the breakdown of civil partnerships, issues over child arrangements, or difficulties in any relationships within a family.
Please Note that it is now a requirement for people proposing to apply to court on any family law matter to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before their application can be submitted to Court. This is a strong indication from the Courts and Parliament that people are being encouraged to mediate, rather than litigate, to resolve family issues
MIAM
Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting
You can attend separately or together to discuss your circumstances and find out more about the mediation process and the courses of action that are open to you.
At the MIAM you will be asked for brief background details, so that the Mediator can assess whether or not the case is a suitable one for mediation, basic safeguarding is carried out, and the process of mediation is explained. Typically, a MIAM lasts for around 45 minutes.
The cost is £95 + VAT per person. You can book an appointment online, or call us on 0800 064 4488 to check availability. It is usually possible to get an appointment for a MIAM at short notice.
At the conclusion of the MIAM, you can decide whether or not you wish to go on to mediate.
In the event that the case is unsuitable for mediation, or if you simply do not feel it is for you, you can request a signed certificate from the Mediator to enable you to submit an application to Court.
Fees
MIAM (Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting) – 1 hour
£95 + VAT per person
Mediation Meeting – 2 hours
* Experienced Family Mediator £100.00 per hour per person plus VAT
For more information on Global Mediation’s MIAM service, please contact us or request a callback by completing the form on the right.
Family / Divorce
Upon the breakdown of a marriage or cohabitation, there are important decisions to be made about the future, relating to arrangements for any children of the relationship, the family home and any other property, how to deal with assets and liabilities. For example, there may be concerns over whether the family home will have to be sold, how joint debts are to be managed, or about the apportionment of pensions, savings or investments.
Family mediation gives participants the opportunity to discuss and consider all available options in a safe and neutral setting before reaching a final decision. In mediation, you remain in control; no decisions will be imposed upon you. Our Family Mediators are skilled in helping separating couples explore all options thoroughly, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each proposal.
Mediation dealing with property and/or finances proceeds on the basis that there is full and frank financial disclosure from each participant. Financial disclosure is, in fact, required whichever route divorcing couples choose to take – mediation, negotiation through solicitors or litigation. This is because the financial disclosure sets the context for discussions about your respective proposals. You would not be able to determine whether or not a suggestion was fair unless all cards had been put on the table.
All points of agreement are noted in a Memorandum of Understanding or Statement of Outcome at the conclusion of the process. A settlement agreed upon in mediation can be made legally binding as part of your divorce proceedings.
Mediation is far quicker and less expensive than litigation, particularly over financial issues. Whilst participants are encouraged to obtain independent legal advice at certain points during the process, the use of a solicitor can be targeted, as particular points for advice will be identified during the mediation sessions, thus helping to keep legal bills to a minimum.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN
When a relationship between parents breaks down, it is usually a priority to set up clear arrangements for the children involved.
Research has shown that children can be more adversely affected by uncertainty or by acrimony between their parents than by the fact of the separation itself.
Global Mediation can offer help with the following:
– Where the children are to live;
– How their time is to be shared between their parents;
– How to explain to children about the changes to be made;
– How to communicate effectively as separated parents;
– Contact between the children and extended family members;
– Child support.
Mediation generally helps to improve communication between parents, enabling them to go forward with a good ‘working’ parenting relationship for the future.
Parenting plans formulated by mutual consent, following full and frank discussion can help restore understanding and trust between parents and assist in moving them on emotionally as well as practically.
FAMILY CONFLICT
Sometimes relationships between family members break down and can be difficult to resolve. Mediation offers the chance to meet in a neutral setting with an experienced, impartial mediator, enabling participants to examine their differences from all angles, helping them to find a mutually acceptable way forward.
Alternatively, for further information about our mediation services, phone 0800 064 4488.
Examples of cases mediated
Family shipping business breakdown dispute over loans and guarantees given by individuals to other members of the family during the course of the business
Family property breakdown and dispute over ownership and distribution of assets
Conflicts within families as they continue to live together or work through arrangements to separate
A disagreement about inter-party share entitlements
A number regarding private school fees disputes
A number of disputes involving mortgage liability and contributions
A number of cases of assault, stalking and other acts of harassment
A number of disputes about divorce costs
Cases involving financial arrangements and contact issues, some involving extended family
Cases involving same sex relationship breakdowns
A number of disagreements between couples from different races and cultures
A case involving a conflict between a mother, father and the grandparents in relation to the rearing of the children
A party suffering from alcohol abuse where the power balance and their ability to look after their own interests was disputed.
A case involving a husband who had suffered a severe brain tumour, disabled with limited life expectancy had needs which had to be balanced against his wife’s own health problems
Cases involving young adults at risk of deliberate self-harm
Cases involving young adults being made homeless
A case involving a 16 year old male teenager in danger of being ejected from the family home because of his refusal to attend college and his unsocial behaviour at home
Cases involving divorced parents who are in dispute about child access arrangements
Dispute between family members (adult son/current partner of deceased) regarding Will and division of Estate
Family mediation between parent and teenager over issues of drug/alcohol abuse and involvement in youth justice system
Family mediation between co-habiting mother and adult child over conflict involving threats of violence
Dispute between former co-habitees and other family members over beneficial ownership of residential properties acquired during long-term partnership
Former co-habitees in dispute over beneficial ownership of jointly-owned residential property abroad
Dispute between family members arising from legal and equitable rights and interests in residential property
Fees
FEES
MEDIATION INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENT MEETING (MIAM)
Our fee for a MIAM is £95 + VAT per person. You can attend separately or together. A MIAM typically takes around 45 minutes for a single assessment; 90 minutes for a joint meeting.
At the end of the MIAM you can decide whether or not you wish to go on to mediate.
MEDIATION
The cost of mediating is £100 + VAT per person per hour.
Mediation sessions are two hours long.
Generally, disputes about arrangements for children require one or two mediation sessions; those involving property or finance typically require three to four sessions.
The cost of resolving disputes by mediation is significantly lower than those commonly incurred in litigation.
DOCUMENTS
If you require your agreement as to the detailed arrangements for your children to be reflected in a formal document, a Statement of Outcome can be produced at a cost of £75 + VAT per person.
At the conclusion of a mediation involving property and finance, a Memorandum of Understanding will be prepared, setting out in detail your agreed proposals and the rationale behind them. This Memorandum will provide clear details of your current and proposed future financial situations, and the practical consequences of any proposals reached. The cost of the Memorandum of Understanding is £250 + VAT per person.