Mediation For Dog Owners Helping Dog Owners Resolve Disagreements Dogs are an important part of our families, and when disagreements arise between dog owners, emotions can quickly become difficult to manage. Disputes can happen for many different reasons. Perhaps two...
OTHER INSIGHTS
Family Mediation Voucher
Scheme
This UK Government scheme helps separated parents use family mediation to sort out disputes without going to the family courts. 1) What the scheme is The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides up to £500 to help pay for family mediation. Family mediation is a...
Are mediation agreements legally
binding?
An agreement reached in family mediation is not automatically legally binding. It is an agreement between the parents, and the mediator can record what has been agreed. To make the arrangements legally binding, you usually need a court order. Key legal distinction (at...
The MOJ extends the mediation voucher scheme by a further 1.3 million
On Monday Lord Wolfson the Under Secretary of State for Justice and the President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane spoke at the launch of Mediation Week. Both stated their desire to make mediation the default position for most family disputes. Lord Wolfson also confirmed that there would be an extra 1.3 million made available to extend the mediation voucher scheme which he described as a huge success.
The future for Mediation
Lord Wolfson stated that mediation now has the MOJ full throated supported and that several changes will be implemented over the course of the next 12 months to ensure that mediation takes place on all suitable cases. One of the options that the MOJ is currently considering is to ensure that both the applicant and respondent attend a MIAM. The courts will be asked to triage applications to ensure that that both parties have attended a MIAM. Failure to engage in dispute resolution or attend a MIAM will likely lead to a cost order against the person who is unwilling to engage. A second option being considered is making mediation the default position on all cases were there are no safeguarding concerns as it is in many other countries. Sir Andrew McFarlane is keen to ensure that all stakeholders should continue to collaborate and work together to ensure families are provided with early information to enable them to consider the impact of the decisions they make on the children involved.
To claim your free mediation voucher, download the referral form or call us on 01925 393 532.