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Family Mediation Services

Family Mediation services can help couples to discuss the future without the need for the expensive legal fees or the litigation process. Mediation is much easier if the two parties are willing to participate, plus it is an impartial process.

What is the Process?

Referral to mediation – The first stage of the process is for either party or their respective solicitor to make a referral to a family mediation service. The referral will include providing the mediation service with both parties contact details and a brief explanation of the issues they wish to mediate on.

• Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) – Following the initial contact with the parties, the next stage is for each respective party to attend a MIAM. For this appointment the mediator will meet each party separately. The purpose of this appointment is for the mediator to meet with each party and assess whether mediation would be suitable for the issues at hand and ascertain if both parties are willing to attend mediation.

If the mediator assesses that mediation is not suitable or if one party does not wish the attend, the mediator can provide the party who attended their MIAM with either a duly signed C100 form (for children applications) or a duly signed Form A (for financial applications) to enable them to issue court proceedings.

• Joint Mediation Session – Once both parties have attended their MIAM and are assessed suitable by the mediator and both parties indicate they wish to proceed with mediation, the next stage of the process is to facilitate a joint mediation session. Prior to the session, the mediator will send each party a client care package will consist of: client engagement letter, agreement to mediate, funding agreement and in financial cases; a financial disclosure booklet.

During the session, the parties will have the opportunity to sit together with the mediator to discuss their respective views and what they would like the outcome to be. The mediator will help the parties to consider the available options based upon what each party has proposed and explore whether these options are viable. The aim of this session is to narrow the issues at hand and try to reach an overall agreement that both parties are content with. A typical mediation process involves 2 or 3 sessions but more sessions may be necessary depending on the issues to be resolved.

• Mediation documentation – After each mediation session, the mediator will draft a mediation record which summaries the issues discussed, any proposals put forward and any tasks they need to complete before the next session. Once both parties have reached an overall agreement the next step for the mediator would be to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an Open Financial Statement (OFS). The OFS is prepared in financial mediation cases only and contains a summary of each parties financial information.

The mediation documentation is not legally binding and the parties will need to take the documentation to a solicitor if they want to formalise the agreement e.g. draw up a consent order.

Mediation MK are here to help you through this time, therefore please contact us today by clicking here for the details

Family Mediation Services

Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP)

Please note: (SPIP) is currently being delivered remotely only.

The Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) is a course which helps you understand how to put your children first while you are separating, even though you may be in dispute with your child’s other parent. The course helps parents learn the fundamental principles of how to manage conflict and difficulties.

You will not attend the same session as your ex-partner. In some areas it is free to attend – you can contact your local provider for more information.

If you wish to attend SPIP in Wales (where the equivalent is Working Together for Children) you should contact Cafcass Cymru: cafcasscymrucontactactivities@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

There’s more information about the course on the SPIP factsheet and the SPIP handbook.

Being ordered to attend by the court

Courts have the power, by making a court order, to ‘direct’ parents to attend a programme aimed at promoting safe contact with children. Cafcass is usually asked to advise the court if it is suitable for you.

You can be ordered to go to a SPIP (there is no charge for Cafcass service user to attend) and/or to a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

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Government Launches New £500 Mediation Voucher Scheme

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a voucher scheme which will provide a contribution of up to £500 towards the mediation costs for eligible cases, supporting people in resolving their family law disputes outside of court, where appropriate.

What is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?

The family mediation voucher scheme is a time-limited scheme, designed to support parties who may be able to resolve their family law disputes outside of court. The Government has set up the scheme in response to Covid-19 to support recovery in the family court and to encourage more people to consider mediation as a means of resolving their disputes, where appropriate. To support this, a financial contribution of up to £500 towards the costs of mediation will be provided, if eligible.

Only mediators authorised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) are taking part in the voucher scheme.

Get in touch today click here

Government Launches New £500 Mediation Voucher Scheme

Mediation MK welcomes a new Chairman!

Mediation MK, specialists in providing Family, Corporate, Commercial, Civil, and Workplace Mediation for over 32 years welcome Russell Edwards to take over at the helm.

Russell Edwards aims to bring a more holistic approach for the charity by dealing with current aspects of the impact of Covid on individual’s well being.

‘Our expertise in delivering first class mediation can be enhanced by offering support to further aspects for personal care’ – Russell Edwards
The impact of Covid is insurmountable. The effect it has had on us may take years to evaluate.

At Mediation MK we can now deliver expert help and support to those who have suffered as a result of the pandemic with regards to mental health, addiction, and abuse.

One of the key issues for Mediation MK is the general awareness of what Mediation can provide. It is simply this: We offer an unbiased, professional service that equals that of any law firm at a fraction of the cost.

Whenever we reach an impasse, whether it is a couple, a corporate enterprise, a company takeover, a dispute between buyer and seller, we tend to rush to seek legal advice, more often than not, we call a solicitor. Legal fees can spiral into ten’s if not hundreds of thousands of pounds!!!

Mediation provides an equal, even more qualified service at an average of 10% of those legal costs.

Mediation is simply Common Sense!!!

For further information, visit our new website: Book and Appointment or contact us on 01908 231 293.

Mediation MK welcomes a new Chairman!