Services

Our mediators are calm, collected and keep the conversation on track.

Mediation Services

If you are going through challenging times as a couple and want to work on a smooth way of splitting up without having to go through the lengthy court system, mediation is the way to go.

1. Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM)

The Mediation Information Assessment Meeting is a short, confidential meeting with an accredited mediator to help you understand the mediation process and discuss your options going forward.

Each party attends a MIAM on their own. It is an opportunity for you to provide information to the mediator about the issues you wish to resolve during mediation and what options are available to you.

The MIAM gives you an opportunity to tell the mediator about your situation, and the issues that need to be decided. The mediator will tell you about the mediation process and other options for reaching agreements.

At the end of the meeting, the mediator will assess whether your case is suitable for mediation and you can decide whether you want to proceed with mediation or explore another option for resolving issues. The mediator can also give you information about other services which provide help and support.

If you decide you do not wish to proceed to mediation then the mediator will sign the relevant forms that you require in order to submit a court application.

2. Mediation Meetings

If mediation is suitable and both parties are willing to mediate, then you proceed to mediation.

Each session lasts an hour and a half. These are online meetings attended by both of you, led by a qualified mediator. The number of meetings required depend on the complexity of the situation

These meetings are where you resolve the issues relating to your separation and decide on the path going forward.

These meetings provide a confidential safe space for you to look to the future and sort out your child arrangements and finances.

The mediator works with you to help identify options and reach solutions.

The mediator ensures that you both have a chance to speak and be heard and provides information needed to help discussions.

The mediator ensure decisions are made jointly and are agreed by both of you.

3. Written Agreements

Once an agreement is reached, the mediator will write it up in a Memorandum of Understanding.

If the mediation involves finances, the mediator will also produce an Open Financial Statement which details full financial disclosure.

These documents can be made legally binding via a solicitor.

If mediation is unsuitable

If mediation is deemed unsuitable, or one or both parties do not wish to attend mediation, then we provide the relevant court forms signed by an accredited mediator which then allows you to submit an application to court.

Anyone making an application to the Family Courts in respect of child arrangements or finances is legally required to attend a MIAM appointment first.

Forward Family Mediation offers a fast and efficient MIAM service. If court forms are required we ensure that we email them to you or your solicitor the same day as the MIAM.