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Mediation is an entirely voluntary process. In most cases, you will need to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before issuing court proceedings. After the MIAM the mediator will issue a MIAM certificate which is required to accompany your application to court.

When you have children it is vital for parents to be able to discuss arrangements for them. In mediation, we will provide legal information and make sure all options are considered, including some neither of you may have thought about. We will support you both to express what you each feel and want and ensure we all listen and really hear one another.

One of the biggest advantages of mediation is that meetings are scheduled to suit you and achieve a resolution well before any court proceedings would have concluded.

Mediation is not always an option if there have been recent and/or repeated incidents of domestic abuse.

17-21 January 2022 is Family mediation Week; an opportunity to learn more about family mediation, a process in which a professionally-trained mediator helps you resolve arrangements for children and finances which is mutually beneficial for you and your former partner in anticipation of or following separation.

In respect of financial matters arising out of a divorce, you are entitled to ask the court to consider several factors relating to your circumstances and your contributions during the marriage and future contributions to the family; for example, by continuing to care for the children of the family after the marriage has been dissolved.

Simply put a “consent order” is an order made by the court with the agreement (consent) of the parties concerned. This contrasts with the order a court makes having heard arguments from both parties as to what they believe is the appropriate order for the court to make – i.e., without the agreement/consent of the parties.

Every situation is different and the choice of whether to go down the divorce route is a personal one. An understanding of how the law of England and Wales deals with divorces as well as the alternative options, will help you make that choice. Sometimes it is easy to feel that divorce is the only route however, considering the alternatives might lead you to a better outcome.

The much talked about “70-30” split of family assets is without doubt an “urban myth” and should be consigned to the bin along with the “common law marriage”.