Family Mediation and Collaborative law
Chantal Findlay is a qualified collaborative lawyer and mediator. She is able to offer all options to clients so they can choose the best way to resolve their issue.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is an effective way of resolving disputes and disagreements without the need to go to court. It involves an independent third party known as a mediator helping people to communicate and to come to an agreement.
Mediation is particularly effective in matters involving family law as it promotes and facilitates communication. Often it is the breakdown in effective communication that is the main source of a downward spiral. If this can be addressed early on, then considerable distress can be avoided.
The role of the mediator is to help parties reach solutions to problems and to arrive at an outcome that they can both accept. Mediators do not give legal advice and the focus of the mediation meeting is to reach a settlement agreeable to both parties in a case. This can involve issues regarding children and/or finances.
Mediation is often a far cheaper alternative than other means of dispute resolution. The cost of the mediator is shared between the parties and works out to be £100 per hour plus VAT per person for mediation sessions.
Initial intake sessions are charged at £100 inclusive of VAT per person.
MIAMS
Chantal also offers Mediation and Information Assessment Meetings (MIAMS). These are meetings that enable a person considering issuing proceedings to find out about mediation and how it can potentially assist them in resolving their dispute.
They must now be attended by parties prior to issuing proceedings at Court in relation to all family proceedings including divorce, financial matters and children disputes
What is Collaborative law?
Collaborative law is a way of dealing with family disputes in which each person appoints their own lawyer and you all meet together to work things out face to face in a series of meetings.
Each of you will have your lawyer with you throughout the entire process and therefore you will benefit from legal advice as you go. The aim of collaborative law is to resolve family disputes without going to court and the process involves you and your partner signing an agreement in which you clearly state your intention to deal with matters without involving the Court. This is because it is important to establish a positive intention by everyone involved to deal with matters constructively and openly.
One of the benefits of the collaborative process is that it’s not driven by a timetable imposed by the court. So to a large extent the process can be built around your family’s individual timetable and priorities.
Next Steps
If you would like to know more, please contact us by the following means:-
Tel: 01202 203242
E-mail: matrimonial@hgwalker.co.uk
Alternatively, for mediation referrals, please complete and return the attached form
