Family Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process that enables you and your former partner or family member to discuss the legal and practical issues you are facing.
Before mediation meetings can start each person must have their own private and confidential online meeting, called a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting). The MIAM will need to be with the same mediator who will taking the mediation process forward with you. After those meetings, if everyone wants to proceed, the first joint meeting can be booked.
The mediator will listen to the issues, facilitate discussions and assist you in resolving disputes that have arisen.
Any issues that you both agree. These can be legal, practical, communication or any concerns or worries you have.
The sessions focus on the issues, the information needed and exploring the options to work out what solutions may work best for you/the family.
The initial MIAM meeting is alone with the mediator. Joint meetings are face to face, with the mediator present at all times. If you have any concerns about being in a room with your ex, this should be discussed with the mediator at the MIAM meeting.
The mediator facilitates discussions. Sometimes this includes assisting with understanding the facts and information and helping with brainstorming alternatives and ideas. Our mediators are experienced in family law and can provide general information on the legal processes and options.
The mediator is impartial and can provide information but not advice. It is sensible to have legal advice during the mediation process, and before any agreements are endorsed into court orders so that you have advice on your rights.
The mediator can confirm any agreements reached at mediation in a Memorandum of Understanding. This is a without prejudice document that lawyers, with both of your agreement, can then turn into a binding court order if needed.
Our mediators are qualified to meet with children during the mediation process, presuming you both agree and the children are old enough to participate and want to. This enables us to bring the views of the children into the discussions we have and ensure their voice is heard as part of the decision-making process.
To give you both a broad idea, it takes on average between 3 and 6 meetings to resolve financial issues and similar to resolve arrangements for the children.
This a legal term meaning that you can have discussions and suggest ideas and proposals without them being referred to in any subsequent court proceedings. What we talk about in the mediation sessions cannot be shared with a Judge or in a court process unless you both agree.
CIM is Child Inclusive Mediation. Our mediators are qualified to meet with children during the mediation process if you both agree and the children are old enough to participate and want to. This enables us to bring the views of the children into the discussions we have and ensure their voice is heard as part of the decision-making process.
Family Mediation and Mentoring provides online family mediation and mentoring services to clients across the UK and, where appropriate, internationally. As most of our appointments take place online, you do not need to live near a particular office or meeting location to access our services.
Our registered office address in Cassington, Oxfordshire, is a correspondence address only. We do not work from these premises or hold client appointments there. We offer a flexible approach to appointments, with online meetings available as the usual arrangement and face-to-face meetings potentially available by prior agreement, where appropriate.
Yes, face-to-face meetings can be arranged by prior agreement, depending on the type of appointment, your location and availability.
We commonly arrange in-person meetings at suitable venues in Oxford, Witney, Thame and Birmingham. Other locations may also be possible by arrangement, so these are not the only areas we can consider.
Face-to-face meetings take place at an agreed venue rather than at our registered office. An additional room hire fee, travel and parking costs may apply, and any applicable fee will be discussed and agreed with you in advance.
Most of our services are delivered online, allowing us to work with clients across the UK and, where appropriate, internationally. Please contact us to discuss the arrangements best suited to your circumstances.
No. These are locations where we commonly arrange face-to-face meetings by prior agreement, not geographical limits on the clients we can work with.
Our online services allow us to work with clients in different parts of the UK and, where appropriate, internationally. You can therefore enquire about our services regardless of where you live, subject to the suitability of the service for your circumstances and any relevant jurisdictional requirements. If you would prefer to meet in person, please contact us to discuss whether a suitable venue can be arranged.
No. All MIAMs offered by Family Mediation and Mentoring take place online and cannot be arranged as face-to-face appointments.
Online MIAMs allow us to speak with clients regardless of their location, subject to the relevant jurisdictional requirements and suitability of the service.
If you are enquiring about a MIAM, please be aware that an in-person appointment is not available. Other types of mediation or mentoring appointments may be arranged face to face by prior agreement, depending on your requirements and the availability of a suitable venue.
