What does family mediation cover?
Family mediation provides a structured, supportive environment where families can address the complex challenges that arise during periods of transition and change. This comprehensive process is designed to help participants reach mutually beneficial agreements across two primary fields: parenting matters and financial or property considerations.
Parenting arrangements
When it comes to children’s wellbeing, mediation helps parents establish practical solutions for their family’s future. Common parenting matters include:
- Time-sharing arrangements that detail when children will spend time with each parent, ensuring they maintain meaningful relationships with both parents
- Grandparent involvement agreements that protect and nurture these important family connections
- Child maintenance frameworks that ensure children’s financial needs are met fairly by both parents
- Holiday schedules, birthday celebrations, and arrangements for other significant events
- Decisions about education, introducing new partners, and potential relocations that might affect existing arrangements
Property and financial matters
The financial aspects of separation require careful consideration and clear agreements. Key areas typically include:
- Division of shared assets and property, with particular attention to the family home
- Distribution of pensions and investment portfolios
- Establishment of spousal maintenance arrangements
- Management of shared expenses and upcoming financial obligations
Throughout the process, mediators maintain flexibility to address each family’s unique circumstances and concerns.
The agenda remains customisable to meet specific needs, with the mediator facilitating constructive dialogue to help participants reach agreements that serve everyone’s best interests, particularly those of any children involved.
Our approach to family mediation
Family disputes don’t always need to end in court proceedings. Our team offers a gentler, more collaborative path that helps preserve relationships while working toward practical solutions. Our experienced mediators combine professional expertise with deep empathy for the emotional challenges your family is facing.
Your journey begins with a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) – a private, one-to-one conversation with your East Mediation mediator. This initial meeting provides a safe space where you can:
- Share your concerns and hopes confidentially
- Learn about how our mediation process works
- Discuss what you’d like to achieve
- Ensure mediation is appropriate and safe for everyone involved
- Ask any questions about the path ahead
Just make contact by telephone or by completing the contact form below to arrange your private meeting with a mediator.
If everyone is willing to go ahead with the family dispute mediation your mediator will make arrangements for everyone to meet. This will take place in one room. These meetings normally last around 1 ½ hours. Your mediator will help you set an agenda and will help you talk through your difficulties.
Our mediation process
Following the completion of individual MIAMs, we arrange joint mediation sessions when everyone is ready to go ahead. These meetings typically last about 1½ hours and take place in our comfortable, neutral setting where:
- Your MIAM helps set a clear, mutually agreed agenda
- Everyone has the opportunity to speak and be heard
- Difficult conversations are guided with care and respect
- Practical solutions are explored together
Your mediator will learn what you would like to discuss in your mediation, explain what will happen and make sure mediation is safe for everyone involved.
If everyone is willing to go ahead with the family dispute mediation your mediator will make arrangements for everyone to meet. This will take place in one room, these meetings typically last around 1 ½ hours.
Your mediator will help you set an agenda and will help you talk through your difficulties. Joint meetings will take place when everyone in the process has attended a MIAM.
If you would like to know more about our process or if our service will support you through this time, please contact us by telephone or by completing the contact form below to arrange your private meeting with a mediator.
If you are able to reach agreed proposals
Mediation is very flexible and every case is different. Some family dispute mediations can be dealt with in one joint session. Other cases, especially financial cases, will need more than one joint session. If you are able to reach joint proposals your mediator will prepare a document setting those proposals out and will discuss what you need to do next.
Impartial, private and voluntary
Your mediator is impartial and will be working with you both. As a result, your mediator cannot deal with either of you in secret and cannot hide information from either of you. Your mediator is not a judge nor a legal advisor.
Your mediation is private. You cannot talk about what happens in mediation in court although you can share information with your legal advisor if you have one. Your mediator will keep your discussions private. There are some rare situations in which that can change and your mediator will tell you about that at your MIAM
You do not have to mediate. We hope that you will want to mediate and will find a value in doing it. Mediation is not compulsory and you may leave at any time.
Family Mediation FAQs
What is family mediation?
Family mediation is a voluntary process where an independent, professional mediator helps family members have constructive conversations and reach agreements about important matters like child arrangements, finances, and property.
Unlike court proceedings, mediation empowers you to make your own decisions in a cooperative, less formal environment.
When should we consider mediation?
Consider mediation whenever you need to make important family decisions, particularly during separation or divorce.
It’s most effective when used early in disagreements before positions become entrenched. However, mediation can help at any stage, even if court proceedings have already begun.
How long does mediation take?
Most families complete mediation within 3-4 sessions, with each session lasting about 90 minutes.
However, the duration varies depending on the complexity of your situation and how quickly you can reach agreements. Some straightforward matters might be resolved in just 1-2 sessions, while more complex cases might require 5-6 sessions.
What makes mediation different from going to court?
Mediation puts you in control of decisions affecting your family’s future, rather than having a judge decide. It’s typically faster and less expensive than court proceedings, and focuses on finding practical solutions that work for everyone involved.
The informal, confidential setting helps reduce stress and preserve relationships, especially important when co-parenting.
What if we can’t reach an agreement?
If you can’t agree on all issues, mediation can still be valuable. Partial agreements reduce the number of issues needing court intervention, saving time and money.
You’ll also better understand each other’s perspectives and concerns, which can help in future discussions or court proceedings.
How can I prepare for mediation?
To make the most of mediation, we recommend:
- Gathering relevant financial documents if discussing money matters
- Thinking about what you want to achieve and what’s most important to you
- Considering various possible solutions rather than fixed positions
- Staying open to compromise and listening to other perspectives
- Writing down key points you want to discuss to ensure nothing is forgotten
- Approaching the process with a willingness to find mutually acceptable solutions