FAMILY MEDIATION

Glynis believes that negotiation is a better way to resolve disputes that arise in family law matters. She aims to deal with matters collaboratively and will only advise her clients to resort to court proceedings where there is no alternative. As of 6 April 2011, a new protocol for family mediation has been introduced that requires people who wish to issue court proceedings in family matters to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.

This could lead to the mediator concluding that the couple are not suitable for mediation e.g. where views are too entrenched or where domestic violence is an issue. Alternatively, it may well be that the couple decide that mediation is a worthwhile route for them to take before they resort to litigation and they decide to sort out the answers to their dispute with the assistance of the trained mediator instead.

Sometimes, people going through the turmoil of divorce or relationship breakup want the opportunity of sitting down together with an independent third party to discuss finances or the arrangements for the children. This can help the parties to communicate more effectively and in some cases can lead to agreement being reached on multiple fronts. Perhaps more importantly, mediation can sometimes help to ensure that family relations remain amicable post divorce. In fact, research indicates that couples who have successfully mediated and resolved their dispute or disputes through this collaborative process have indeed been better friends afterwards than those who resort to court proceedings.

Glynis is a trained Resolution family mediator herself and takes on couples for private mediation who wish to resolve their differences in a collaborative way. However, if Glynis is already acting as a divorce lawyer for one of the couple, she cannot also mediate for the couple as this is a conflict of interest. In these circumstances, Glynis will refer her client and his or her spouse or partner to another trusted local family mediator in Leicester who will then liaise with Glynis if agreement is reached and it needs to be implemented legally. However, if Glynis is not instructed as a divorce lawyer by one of the parties, then Glynis can take on the couple directly for private mediation and will manage the mediation process with the couple herself.

If you have any questions regarding mediation, you can contact Glynis on 0844 225 2790 who will be happy to arrange an initial meeting to explore whether mediation is an option for you and your spouse or partern. Alternatively you can email your enquiry to Glynis.