What is the family mediation process?

Family mediation has been a legal requirement since 2014, but even before that time it was widely recognised as a way to bring cases to a quicker resolution, as well as saving on court costs.

During mediation, the mediator will talk to all involved parties, and attempt to bring your case to a mutually agreeable resolution.

There are several benefits to this, even if you cannot come to a complete agreement without the case progressing to court itself.

First of all, it adds some emotional distance to the most fraught disputes, as you can communicate with one another via the mediator – and this alone can allow you to step back and appreciate the circumstances of your case more objectively.

It can also help to be less emotionally charged in cases involving children, which is one of the key reasons why mediation is now mandatory in divorce cases.

There’s also more dignity for many people in being able to negotiate the terms of their case without descending into petty squabbles – again, the mediator provides the distance needed to achieve this.

Of course, there is no guarantee that a mediator will be able to bring the case to a complete resolution without it going to court, but even if the case progresses, mediation will usually help to an extent.

By clarifying where there is partial agreement, and the points that are still under dispute, it is possible to narrow down the range of topics the court needs to address.

This allows your lawyers to do their work efficiently, negotiating on the remaining points of contention, without wasting valuable time in the busy family courts.

It also means savings on time and money for all of the involved parties, as well as a generally less stressful process overall – combining to make a compelling case for putting your trust in your mediator, however emotional and challenging your case may be.