Divorce Mediation Solicitors

A class act

Legal 500, 2018/19

If you and your ex-partner choose to divorce, it can be difficult to agree about your finances or arrangements for your children. Divorce mediation is a way of negotiating an amicable agreement, while keeping your case out of court.

There are several different types of mediation, but all involve using an impartial specialist (a mediator) to help you to agree a settlement. It is possible to go through mediation without seeing or speaking to your ex-partner at all. Divorce mediation has many benefits when compared to the court process:

It's typically much quicker - mediation can usually reach a resolution in six months, divorce through a court can take up to two years
It is often cheaper.

Divorces are difficult, but our family law solicitors can guide you through mediation to find a resolution for you and your family. Your mediator will work with you and your ex-partner to find a solution that both of you are satisfied with.

We’re known for being caring and compassionate, but also for our no-nonsense and firm approach to negotiation.

Our specialist team can advise you on your options. Call us on 0345 604 4911, or contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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Ros Bever National Head of Family Law Meet the team

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Mediation - More Information

"Ros Bever is an excellent lawyer who is passionate about getting things right."

Chambers & Partners, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Divorce Mediation?

Mediation involves using an impartial third party (a mediator) to help you and your ex-partner to negotiate a divorce settlement out of court. The process can take place face-to-face, but equally can also be arranged so that you don’t see or speak to your ex-partner at all. Advantages of using mediation include:

It's typically much quicker
It is often cheaper
It can be less stressful
It can be beneficial if there are children involved
It can help create a good working relationship between you and your ex-partner

Specially trained mediators can also talk to your children to ensure their wishes and feelings are taken into account during the process.

If you want to find out more about mediation services, or any of the other out-of-court divorce options, call 0345 604 4911, or contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

What Types Of Mediation Are There?

There are three different types of divorce mediation – you can still use mediation even if you do not wish to speak to or see your ex-partner:

Face to face mediation
You, your ex-partner, your lawyers and the mediator will discuss the issues between you face to face, to try and reach an agreement that’s fair for both of you.

Shuttle mediation
You and your ex-partner sit in different rooms, and the mediator will move between the different rooms to speak to you individually. This method avoids the need to see or speak to your ex-partner, and is often used in cases where there has previously been domestic violence.

Tandem mediation
There will be two mediators from different specialisms – for example often a mediator who is legally qualified and one with a therapeutic background - to provide a broader perspective.

Our specialist lawyers can help you decide which mediation option is best for you. Call 0345 604 4911 or contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

How Long Does Divorce Mediation Take – Is It Longer Than Going To Court?

Divorce mediation can be quicker than going through the courts, not to mention cheaper. Mediated divorces are often resolved inside six months, but divorce through the courts can take anything up to two years.

A lot of couples find it difficult to communicate following the breakdown of a relationship. Trying to reach an agreement over finances or children can become a lengthy process.

Mediation can be quicker than trying to negotiate an agreement between yourselves because the mediator will provide a structure to the negotiations and they will also make sure you have covered all of the elements you need to.

However, if you use mediation to try and agree a financial settlement, it’s important that you and your ex-partner are completely honest about your circumstances. If mediation breaks down, then you may be left with no better option than going through the court process anyway. It’s critical to seek legal advice on your options at the start of your divorce, to see which option is best for you.

If you'd like to find out more about whether divorce mediation is right for you, please call us on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

I live in Scotland, can Irwin Mitchell help me?

Our expert family law team works with a number of trusted partners to help our clients with family law issues in Scotland.

We’ll be your point of contact and manage the entire process for you throughout. You’ll get frequent progress updates and we’ll break down any legal jargon into plain English so you’re always in the loop.

To find out more about how we can help, give us a call on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online.

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