If you and your partner are separating or divorcing, family mediation can help you to settle practical issues, such as dividing your assets and arranging access to your children, in a way which works for everyone. It removes the need for these decisions to be settled in court or through solicitors, which can be stressful and costly; indeed, even if your case has already gone to court, mediation can help resolve any additional issues you might have.
In family mediation sessions, you and your partner will meet (first separately, then together) with an impartial and specially trained family mediator. You’ll explain what needs to be settled, explore the options available, discuss your individual and collective concerns, and consider ways of reaching agreement on the issues you need to resolve.
Your mediator will help you and your partner to reach well-informed decisions that are practical and seem fair to both of you, without taking a side or trying to influence your decision in any way. When you reach an agreement, the mediator will write it down in a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ so that all parties are clear on the outcome. If your decision needs to be legally enforceable, the terms worked out in mediation can be made legally binding in court.
We’ve created some additional pages to help answer some of your questions:
What are the benefits of family mediation?
What issues can be solved through mediation?
How do I find a qualified mediator?
Do young people have the right to be consulted?
The YouTube link below entitled ‘Family Mediation – A better way’, is a special Christmas video developed by Protocol IT with assistance from Lisa Parkinson to help explain the benefits of family mediation compared with going to court.