What does a Family Law mediator do?
A family law mediator assists parties in resolving the legal issues that arise from separation or divorce without going to court. A mediator cannot give advice, cannot take sides, and cannot keep secrets. What a mediator can do is facilitate discussions between you and your former partner to help resolve matters, whether those relate to finances, children, or any other legal issues that stem from your separation.
Importantly, any agreements reached through mediation are not binding. They are made on a “without prejudice” basis, which gives you the freedom to explore all options and possibilities with your former partner, with the aim of reaching agreements that work for you and your family.
Alternatives to mediation and court
Mediation is not always suitable for everyone, and DMH Stallard offers a range of non-court dispute resolution options. These include:
- Solicitor-led negotiations, where your solicitors correspond on your behalf to reach a settlement
- Collaborative law, which involves both parties and their specially trained collaborative lawyers working together in structured meetings to reach an agreement without court involvement
- Round Table Meetings involve sitting around a table with your former partner and both solicitors to work towards an agreement together
- Hiring a Private Judge, where an impartial private judge is engaged to help resolve your family law dispute. This can be at a ‘private financial dispute resolution’ (pFDR) hearing or via ‘early neutral evaluation.’ (ENE)
Resolution away from court allows you to retain autonomy and control over the outcomes and is why NCDR should always pursued as an alternative to going to court.
Get in touch – If you are interested in exploring NCDR for your family law matter, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the family team at DMH Stallard by email or call +44(0)3333 231580
