Most firms charge £140 plus vat per hour, we charge a very fair rate of £100 plus vat per client per hour. As Mediation Solutions UK is an accredited practice we can also offer the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) voucher which provides couples with a contribution of £500...
OTHER INSIGHTS
What is Child Inclusive Mediation?
Child-Inclusive Mediation (or Direct Child Consultation) is process where an accredited mediator meets with a child. The aim is ensure the child's voice is heard when issues relating to them are being discussed by parents. Often parents have differing views on what...
Is mandatory mediation the future?
Background Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which an impartial mediator will help facilate discussions between individuals or businesses to help them come to a mutually beneficial decision. As mediation is a voluntary process the concept of the...
The future looks bright for mediation
The Family Courts were already stretched pre-COVID19, and since lockdown, this has created further backlogs meaning that separated families are having to wait longer than usual, and, longer than necessary, for their applications to be heard.
A lot of these cases involve parents who are not seeing their children, and separated parties who are still living together, in stressful situations at home, and who need financial issues, such as their future living arrangements to be dealt with. Lockdown has exacerbated the delay families are having to endure, causing further stress to an already emotive and difficult situation. It is envisaged that this situation will only get worse once lockdown is over.
Sir Andrew McFarlane states in his report that,
‘In all Family cases, regard should always be had to alternative means of dispute resolution. At a time when it is clear that the court will struggle to cope with the volume of cases in a restricted working environment, it is all the more important that parties, legal advisers and the judiciary should have express regard to all forms of non-court dispute resolution (in accordance with rule 3.4 FPR 2010) including mediation, conciliation or arbitration.’
Further, ‘There will be many private law children cases or financial remedy cases that may be resolved by one or other of these alternative means. All Judges and practitioners are urged to familiarise themselves with these options and be prepared to identify those cases which may be suitable for one or other forms of ADR.’
The Family Mediation Council have also recently submitted proposals to the Ministry of Justice designed to assist separating families during the coronavirus pandemic, and, ease the extra burden that already falls on the overstretched Family Courts. These proposals have been shared with Sir Andrew McFarlane, his Private Law Working Group, CAFCASS and the National Association of Child Contact Centres. They include:
- The MOJ paying for all MIAMS, irrespective of whether a party is eligible for Legal Aid or not;
- Ways to ensure better enforcement of current rules regarding MIAMS attendance including encouragement by the Court for Respondents to attend a MIAM where they have not;
Better Court awareness of the opportunities offered by mediation; - An online Duty Mediator Scheme.
To read the full proposals visit: familymediationcouncil.org.uk-proposals-family-mediation.