WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?

Dealing with the end of a relationship is never going to be easy, particularly when children are involved.

Family Mediation offers couples a chance to limit hostility at an emotional and difficult time and deal with the unresolved issues between them in a positive and cost effective way.

If Family Mediation is not attempted or breaks down, the only option is to resort to the legal process.  Within that, there are a number of possibilities:

1.   Each party instructs their own solicitor. The solicitors are likely to attempt to reach an agreed solution via correspondence. This is a time consuming and expensive process, even if successful.

2.   Each party may instruct a solicitor trained in collaborative law. If so, the negotiations will take place in meetings between the parties and their solicitors in the hope of reaching agreement. Again, even if successful, this process is likely to be more expensive and take longer than mediation. If unsuccessful, these solicitors are barred from representing their clients in court proceedings and the parties will have to instruct new solicitors before court proceedings can begin.

3.   If no agreement can be reached then the Courts will impose decisions on the parties. Legal costs can run into many thousands of pounds and the process may take months or years to conclude. It can be emotionally devastating to the parties to have so little control over the decisions that will shape their future.  This is why most Applicants are now required to show that they have fully explored all the alternatives by attending a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before Court proceedings can be started.