2014: a year to remember for mediation

2014: a year to remember for mediation

This year has been an important year for mediation. Nationally, mediation cases have increased by 49% since the new rules came into force in April requiring couples to consider mediating before any court action is started for the vast majority of family law disputes, and I am pleased to say that Godalming Family Mediation has seen a similar increase in work.

Then there is the government’s promotion of the use of Direct Child Consultation within the mediation process, which allows a suitably qualified mediator to meet with children who are old enough in order to give them a chance to share their thoughts and feelings about their parents’ separation when appropriate.

The even better news is that, in recognition of the key role that mediation is now playing within the family law system, from 1^st January 2015 a new accreditation system will ensure that there is a list of accredited mediators with only these mediators being allowed to undertake court-related mediations and with anyone who wants to mediate being able to confirm quickly whether a prospective mediator has the required skills and experience.

My belief is that the use of mediation will continue to grow strongly during 2015, with this resulting in thousands more separating couples reaching lasting solutions about the future, including about any financial and children’s issues, in as amicable and as cost-effective a way as possible. To quote just a few recent clients:

“You provided an excellent service.  It is always going to be an emotionally fraught experience but you provided just the right balance of logic/reason and empathy to every point raised for discussion.  I’d definitely recommend you in the future, but I’d urge anyone to start the mediation process much sooner than we did.” Wendy, November 2014

“My experience of mediation with Euan Davidson was the importance of having someone with a level head when emotions were running high. Euan was able to calm things down several times with sensitivity and clarity. Divorce is hard enough emotionally without trying to work out the complexities of unwinding a long marriage and he helped both of us to navigate that. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend mediation. It has certainly saved both of us a substantial sum of money compared to if we had gone the purely legal route.” Tom, November 2014

“I was referred to Godalming Family Mediation at the beginning of the year and cannot fault the professionalism of the guidance we received.  Euan brought clarity, attentiveness and sensible thinking to meetings that were on occasions highly charged with emotion and stress.  As a result, my ex-husband and I have been able to reach an amicable agreement on the financial settlement of our marriage at a very moderate cost in comparison to escalating legal costs.” Helen, November 2014

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about the mediation process and remember that it is never too late to mediate

Euan Davidson – please click for more information about the author

Family mediator

Godalming Family Mediation

euan@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk