It’s Family Mediation Week 2024.

This week is National Family Mediation Week and here are our reasons why we at Blackstone Family Law LLP encourage clients to enter in to mediation to deal with family matters in suitable circumstances, rather than going to Court:-

1. It is much quicker and usually, cheaper than embarking on litigation. The Family Courts are overburdened with too many cases and too few Judges and Court staff. The delays in the court system are significant.
   
2. A mediated agreement can deal with issues which a Judge cannot deal with in a Court order.
   
3. You can take legal advice as the mediation progresses and should do so before committing to any agreement reached in mediation.
   
4. You do not have to be in the same room / share a screen with your former partner if you are not comfortable doing so. The mediator will not allow any abuse or controlling behaviour.
   
5. The agreement reached in mediation can become a legally binding order or agreement.
   
6. Mediation can lead to better communications with your former partner at the end of the process.
   
7. You can discuss both matters relating to your children and financial issues in mediation whereas if you go to court, there are separate proceedings for both children and finances.

If you would like to speak to us about how mediation works and whether it may be suitable for you, please feel free to contact us. Both Wendy Ryle and Sharon Blackstone are mediators or for our own clients, for whom we cannot act as solicitor and mediator, we can recommend other excellent mediators.