This week is Family Mediation Week – a week where the benefits of family mediation can be celebrated.   

Mediation is a way to help couples take control of their separation, make decisions together and build a future for themselves in as positive a way as possible.  It involves an independent mediator who will help you and your ex-spouse try to make mutually satisfactory decisions in relation to your financial separation or in relation to your children’s care. 

There are many benefits to mediation.  It allows you and your ex-partner to make the best decisions for your family as you are the most informed about your own circumstances. Who can possibly know your family better than you?  With a court action, the judge, who will not know your family at all, makes decisions about all matters, and you may not like these decisions.  You lose all control with a court action whereas with mediation you are in control of what is talked about, what is decided, and the costs, which are cheaper than going to court.

Mediation is not always successful, but they are in a very high proportion of mediation cases, in our experience. Even if you and your ex-spouse are not able to agree on everything, you may be able to agree on some things. This may limit how much you have still to resolve, which will make the situation easier for you and possibly save you money.  You still have all the options open to you if mediation is not wholly successful. If not, you can go to court, or negotiate through solicitors. 

The bottom line is you have nothing to lose in trying mediation in the first instance.

We have five solicitors accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as specialists in Family Mediation and so we are in a perfect position to help you with your separation.  We are all passionate about mediation and the positive results it can achieve.  If you want to know more about this service, or whether it could help your family, then please get in touch.