Divorce and Family Mediation

Divorce and Family Mediation

By Euan Davidson

euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk

12th February 2014

One of the biggest obstacles to starting mediation as part of a divorce or separation is the feeling, either directly from one of the parties themselves or following advice from a solicitor, that mediation is not suited to or necessary for a particular situation.

However, mediation can be helpful for the vast majority of divorcing couples, especially when there are financial assets, such as a family home or pensions, or future income/expenditure issues to consider or when there are children’s arrangements to discuss.

Traditionally, mediation has been seen as a way to try to repair situations where the parties are no longer communicating or as a last resort before court action. However, whilst mediation can certainly help in these situations, I have mediated for many separating couples who are still living together in the same home but who are looking to untangle their joint lives and finances in the most sensible way possible, as well as for many parents who have managed to temporarily set up separate homes for themselves and their children but who above all else want to finalise their futures in as amicable and fair a way as possible, and these are often the most rewarding cases for everyone involved. Both parties entered the process with a commitment to working together, to reducing legal costs and to trying to avoid unnecessary disputes, and this is exactly what tends to be achieved.

By committing to the mediation process both parties will save significant amounts of money in legal fees, as well as precious time and energy, whilst ensuring that long-term, sustainable agreements are reached about all the issues discussed, including many legal and practical issues that might not even have occurred to the parties before the mediation process.

So, if you considering divorce or separation, whether or not you are still managing to communicate with your partner, please contact a mediator to discuss whether mediation might be helpful for you both rather than simply assuming that mediation  is not necessary or not suitable.

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.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I look forward to reading your comments.

Euan Davidson

Family mediator

Godalming Family Mediation