What Is Family Mediation?
Family mediation can be used to facilitate the resolution of any issue involving family breakdown, separation, divorce and its financial consequences, arrangements for children and any other kind of family dispute. There are many different types of mediation to help couples reach agreements and stay out of court.
The Emotional Challenges of Separation
Going through separation and the transition that this requires can be very emotional and challenging. Family breakdown and family disputes are statistically one of the most stressful things a person can face in life. People are often worrying about the future, their children, how they are going to pay for everything and even where they are going to live.
The Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM)
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 must be with the same mediator a couple are going to work with moving forward and it will be for a fixed fee.
When Mediation Is Not Appropriate
If for any reason mediation is not appropriate, the mediator will provide a MIAM certificate. This certificate now needs to be filed with most court applications involving children and/or financial proceedings in a divorce case.
Starting the Mediation Process
After the MIAM meetings, if everyone wants to proceed, the first joint meeting will be booked. Everyone involved must sign what is called an “Agreement to Mediate.”
How Mediation Meetings Work
Moving forward, the joint mediation meetings are mostly held online and each one lasts for about 90 minutes to 2 hours. Most issues can be resolved in 3-5 meetings. Face-to-face mediation meetings are also possible but many couples now prefer the ease of online meetings. The costs of joint mediation meetings are often shared.
Types of Family Mediation
Traditional mediation is where the couple meet with the mediator together in the same room, either face-to-face or in a digital room online. If a couple do not want to see each other, there is also the option of shuttle mediation, where they are in separate rooms. If couples feel they need the support of their lawyers, there is hybrid lawyer-assisted mediation where the lawyers can support people through the process. In appropriate cases, mediators can also meet with children to give them a voice in the process.
The Benefits of Family Mediation
Family mediation often helps couples agree on how to separate or divorce. In meetings, couples agree on the process and can then discuss their future co-parenting plan. When dealing with financial agreements, full financial disclosure first needs to be provided so that everyone can make informed decisions about what a fair agreement would be. Although family mediation often deals with separation and divorce, it can be helpful for any type of family dispute.
