HARTE MEDIATION SERVICES

LET US HELP YOU

You may be getting divorced, separating, or you may have separated some time ago and have children together.  Family mediation helps you to talk to your ex-partner to make arrangements for your children, home, finance and child support.

Agreeing arrangements can be very hard, often, it is just too hard to do by yourselves; feelings get in the way and discussions about practical things get lost in hurt and anger. And when you do manage to discuss them, most people are feeling less reasonable than usual. It is for all of these reasons that many people find it useful to get some help from a family mediator, who has been properly trained to help you put your feelings aside and focus on the practical issues that need to be sorted out.

As Family Mediators, we won’t take sides, or decide what is right for you – we are here to help you arrive at a decision that you consider right for your family. You can use family mediation straight away, after deciding to end your relationship, or later if you are still having problems.

What is the difference between using a solicitor and a mediator?

A solicitor will give you legal advice and prepare court documents for you. A solicitor can also manage negotiations, on your behalf to try and reach an agreement with your ex, either about children’s arrangements or finances. The solicitor does not meet your ex and only represents you.

The solicitor does not represent the children.  As accredited mediators, we will work with both of you to help you discuss issues and reach agreements. We are experts in managing discussions and negotiations with both clients and will always keep the children’s needs as the main focus.

STEP 1 – MIAM

A MEETING BETWEEN YOU AND A MEDIATOR

A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (or MIAM for short) is a 1 to 1 meeting, where we will explain the mediation process to you, find out what your options are on the matter and find out from you, what you hope to achieve from the Family Mediation.

We will talk through any concerns you may have about the process or with your ex-partner.  We will also explain to you the benefits of mediation and explain how the mediation sessions are approached, so you are fully aware of what to expect.  If you and your family mediator decide to move forward with mediation, we will contact your ex-partner to discuss the matter and hopefully plan for a mediation session.

We can offer an online telephone or face-to-face MIAM service.

Step 2 – Mediation

EXPLORING OPTIONS & AGREEING A WAY FORWARD

During mediation you will get the opportunity to talk about matters from your point of view along with finding out what the other ex-partner wants to talk about. You don’t have to see the other ex-partner if you don’t want to (you can be in separate rooms), and we can arrange for you to arrive at different times.

You and your ex-partner will be able to raise things that are important to you and we will help create a list of topics to talk through. We will help you and your ex-partner (separately or together) go through all your issues, discuss your options, and decide whether they would work well in practice and agree what’s best. We can also explain how you can make your agreement legally binding, if you want to.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FAMILY MEDIATOR

TRUSTED SUPPORT IN TIMES OF CHANGE

A really good question to ask yourself is, “How do I choose the right family Mediator for me” and you need to choose a mediator with great care. First, and most importantly, your mediator needs to be accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC for short), so it’s important that you ask.  If they are not accredited, they cannot sign court forms if you need them to.

Don’t worry about your mediators background; all FMC accredited mediators need to prove that they have all the legal knowledge and skills to deal with your case. It is better for you to speak your potential mediator before you book your MIAM.  Remember, your Mediator will be helping you talk about important things in your life so you want to know:

• Are they easy to talk to?
• Do I feel that I’m being listened to?
• Do I feel confident that they would manage any potential conflict during mediation?

Essentially, you want to pick a Family Mediator whose approach makes you feel comfortable and confident.

AREAS WE COVER

TRUSTED SUPPORT IN TIMES OF CHANGE