FAQs on Mediation
What is Family Mediation?
Mediation can be one of the most cost effective forms of negotiating any family law issue. We recommend that a mediator who has a legal background is instructed to ensure that they will assist you in reaching an agreement that would be approved by a Court and is compatible with any relevant legal principles.
Mediators are impartial and are unable to provide either of you with legal advice. Their role is to assist you in negotiating a particular point or series of issues in the hope that an agreement can be reached.
Mediation can be conducted virtually online, on a face to face basis whereby you both sit around a table with your mediator to discuss matters, or on a ‘shuttle’ basis which entails you both being in separate rooms and the mediator will shuttle between you to progress negotiations.
What is the role of a family mediator?
A family mediator is an impartial third party who helps married & unmarried couples, parents, grandparents, step-parents and young people to discuss their issues openly and make informed decisions on how they are going to resolve and/or manage these issues going forward.
Is an agreement made during a mediation session legally binding?
Agreements reached in mediation are not binding, they are without prejudice and therefore cannot be placed before the Court. If an agreement is reached then it should be formally recorded within solicitor’s correspondence or a Consent Order after the mediation process has concluded.
What is virtual family mediation?
Since the Covid Pandemic, we have adapted our mediation service to offer a virtual mediation service, whereby all parties join an online meeting via a video conferencing tool to discuss family issues remotely. We start the process by meeting each party individually to understand each person’s position and then we arrange a joint mediation session online.
