Frequently Asked Questions

No. Unless you have reached a financial agreement and put that into a court order, you still have potential claims against each other's assets. Divorce only dissolves the legal marriage.

Not really. You may be able to slow the process down in some circumstances, but your ex will eventually be able to divorce you without your agreement. It is always better to try to keep the divorce as amicable as possible.

Family mediation is the most amicable way of resolving issues arising from divorce or family breakdown. It is something you do, rather than the court process which is done to you, with the help of a trained and qualified mediator who helps you identify and assess options.

Mediation can help with division of property, pensions and finances, child arrangements such as contact, residency, holidays and child support, and extended family arrangements.

No. Family mediation is not the same as marriage counselling or guidance. It is about discussing the practicalities of separating, rather than reconciling the relationship.

If you are not certain your relationship has broken down, mediation can be used to discuss and agree interim arrangements while you try to reconcile through marriage counselling.

In the majority of cases, parties willing to participate in mediation reach agreement on most or all matters in dispute. Ministry of Justice data from the Voucher Scheme shows a whole or partial agreement was reached in two-thirds of cases.

It is quicker, cheaper and more impartial than legal channels, empowers both parties to make informed choices, helps rebuild communication and trust, takes children's needs into account, is confidential, and can result in a legally binding agreement.

MIAM stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. During the MIAM the mediator meets each party separately to explain the process, carry out a domestic violence screening, and assess whether mediation is suitable.

This depends on each case. The average number of sessions to complete a parenting plan is two or three, while property and finance cases requiring full disclosure typically need two to four sessions, depending on complexity and both parties' engagement.

Each mediation session is scheduled for 1.5 hours but may last up to two hours. Shuttle mediation sessions are booked for two hours.

Children's feelings and views can play an important part in mediation discussions. If appropriate, a Child Inclusive Mediator can speak directly with the children, but only with the consent of both parents and the children themselves.

Yes, you may bring someone with you to the MIAM if it would make you more comfortable. However, it is not normally permitted to bring anyone else to the mediation sessions themselves, other than in exceptional circumstances.