What is Mediation?
Mediation is a process that helps two (or more) people who are struggling to make important and necessary decisions. If the process is stuck, or having the necessary conversations is too difficult, a mediator can help unstick those deadlocks and make it easier to move the decision along.
What is Family Mediation?
Family Mediation is specifically about helping couples and families make decisions after break-ups or other disagreements around family matters.
Family mediation aims to encourage separating couples to sit down together (either physically or virtually) and work out solutions to the financial and family-based issues that are part of separation or divorce. The goal is for the partners to come to an amicable agreement which suits everyone involved, avoiding the costs – literally and figuratively – of bitter battles in court. Mediation can help to secure a far better outcome for couples and children – it tends to be quicker, less costly and less combative than resolving issues through court or solicitors.
Mediation is also simpler and less stressful than going to court – and it works. It can help all family members, including children, move on quickly to the next stages of their lives, and maintain important family relationships. Studies show that mediation is a highly successful way of helping couples resolve disputes, with agreements reached in over 70% of cases.
The number of families who still have arrangement in place 5 years later is significantly higher with mediated decisions than with those decided by the courts.
What Family Mediation is not
A family mediator is not there to discuss the reasons for the break-up or attempt to bring a couple back together. It is not counselling or therapy. A mediator’s role begins after the decision to part has been made.
