Separating parents can avoid courtroom conflict as Family Mediation Week kicks off 16th – 20th January 2023

Furley page supports Family Mediation week 2023 as one of the options available to families to resolve issues on separation.

Parents who have decided to separate or divorce in 2023 are urged to find out how to avoid courtroom confrontation to settle money and parenting arrangements, with the launch of Family Mediation Week, 16th – 20th January 2023.

January usually sees a dramatic rise in the number of parents deciding to live apart as the various pressures that go hand-in-hand with the Christmas period act as a final straw for relationships.

Laura Sinclair, Associate Solicitor says: “Family Mediation Week, organised by the Family Mediation Council, is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of family mediation, a process that can help ex-partners agree what works for them, whilst avoiding the court process with all the stress, delay and cost it can bring. Many parents emerge from the festive period feeling defeated by the pressures on relationships and finances that have been highlighted during the holiday period. Here in Kent we find parents in this position simply don’t know which way to turn. Their life-changing decision to separate brings with it so many tough questions:

• Who lives where?
• Where will the children live, and how will we make sure we each spend time with them?
• How will we sort money?
• What about debts and pensions?
• And even the family dog?

Family Mediation Week shines a helpful spotlight on these tricky issues, offering separating parents information about their options as they look to make arrangements for parenting, property and finance.”

Family Mediation

Family mediation is a process where an independent, professionally trained mediator helps you work these things out, enabling you to avoid courtroom confrontation. Professional mediators help empower you to create long-term solutions for your particular circumstances, rather than leaving it to a court to make decisions for your family.

In response to Covid-19, the Government set up the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme to support recovery in the family court and to encourage more people to consider mediation as a means of resolving their disputes, where appropriate. To support this, a financial contribution of up to £500 towards the costs of mediation will be provided, if eligible.

Only mediators authorised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) are taking part in the voucher scheme and all mediators on the FMC Register meet agreed professional standards.

The FMC Register can be searched online, enabling people to find mediators near to them, who are working online, and – if relevant – who offer legal aid. The search facility can be found at: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/

Family Mediation Week takes place from 16th – 20th January 2023.  As a Resolution* member,  Laura Sinclair and the Furley Page Family Team who are also members of Resolution are supporting Family Mediation Week to raise awareness of mediation and how it can help separating families manage their issues productively and collaboratively.

The week will include a whole programme of events, some specifically designed for members of the public which could be hugely beneficial to anyone going through or considering a separation.

A list of those events can be found here: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/family-mediation-week-events-for-the-public/ and more information and resources can be found at:  https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/fmw/

Anyone wanting to know more about the benefits of family mediation can contact a member of the Furley Page family law team on 01227 763939 or email family@furleypage.co.uk

Resolution: Committed to working with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way.*