What can we discuss at mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary process which enables separating couples to meet with an impartial third party to discuss future arrangements for the family following their separation.

Guided by a trained mediator, each family sets their own agenda. Topics for discussion are most often arrangements for children and the division of family finances. These can be extended as the participants wish and may include, for example, managing the arrangements for family pets or the division of personal possessions.

The arrangements for family pets are a frequent issue that arise upon separation. Whether determining where the pets are to live, or how their care is going to be financed, it is only in rare circumstances that it would be proportionate to instruct a solicitor to negotiate the finer details. Nonetheless, the arrangements can be a deeply emotive topic. At mediation, time and space can be made during a meeting to explore the options together, to try to reach an arrangement that both people are content with.

It is also possible to mediate specific issues

Even where the participants have each chosen to work primarily with a solicitor to negotiate on their behalf in respect of arrangements, for instance for children or the division of family finances, wider issues such as the arrangements for family pets or division of personal possessions can still be referred to mediation. This may often be the key to reaching an agreement on the wider primary issues.

Mediation is a safe space to explore options, Discussions within mediation are not binding until an agreement has been reached that both participants are comfortable with and agree can be recorded in a Memorandum of Understanding. The unique nature of the process gives separating families the chance to discuss matters that are individually important to them, with significantly less concern about the financial proportionality of engaging in the discussion.