Sheila Parkes and her Haymarket Family Mediation team are here to take the worry off your hands. Please call Sheila on 01256 854652 or email [email protected] and she or a member of her team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Haymarket Family Mediation is a service that helps couples deal with any or all of the issues resulting from the breakdown of their relationship. This can include:
Day to day care arrangements of the children
How the children’s time is shared between their parents
Financial support
Housing needs
Division of capital and property
Consideration of pensions
Debt
Mediation can also be helpful in other types of relationship breakdown such as grandparent/parent cases. Overall, mediation can help you reach a long-lasting settlement that is fair to you both and avoids or reduces the risk of high legal costs.
The Haymarket Family Mediation team have temporarily suspended all face-to-face Mediation for the time being. This is in line with government advice due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, we are still able to conduct Mediation Assessment and Information Meetings (MIAMs) and Mediation via Web Conferencing, FaceTime, Skype and Zoom.
Is generally cheaper than using the court
Can help reduce areas of conflict
Is usually better for the children
Lessens the stress of the relationship breakdown
Is confidential
Is voluntary
Reduces the need for as much input from solicitors
You will initially be seen for a Mediation Information and Assessment (MIAM) meeting by a mediator on your own or with your former partner, so that you can both be satisfied that mediation is right for you. If so, there will then be a number of joint sessions arranged for you with the mediator.
Within those sessions, any issues about children and or your respective financial positions would be considered. This would involve financial information and documents being gathered together and exchanged in an open and co-operative atmosphere, the aim being to find a solution that suits you both.
If agreement is reached, the terms are written up in a document that you can then take to solicitors to finalised. Shuttle mediation (where each client is in a different room) or mediation Skype is also available in suitable cases.
Some of our mediators have an added qualification in “child inclusive mediation.” This can enable mediators to see children as part of the mediation process if it is felt appropriate by the mediator and the parents.
Where there is an impasse in reaching agreement about the day to day care arrangements for children, this option can be invaluable and helps to give the child a “voice.”
Haymarket Family Mediation has a contract from the government funded Legal Aid Agency to provide legal aid for mediation for those that are eligible. In those circumstances the mediation process is free to the eligible client throughout, unless their circumstances change substantially.
In addition, the other client will be entitled to a free initial information meeting (MIAM) and a free first session and will only be charged for subsequent sessions and the preparation of any documents. To find out whether you may be eligible for Legal Aid, please visit www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid.
Sheila Parkes and her Haymarket Family Mediation team are on hand to help you and can assist wherever you are based. Please call Sheila for a no-obligation, initial discussion on 01256 854652 or email [email protected] and she or a member of her team will call or email you back.
Our office is based in Basingstoke, but we can also assist clients remotely via video and by telephone.