Family Mediation Services

At Bellwether Solicitors, we understand that separation can be very stressful and emotional. We offer mediation services to assist you and your family in reaching a constructive and pragmatic agreement regarding finances and/or child arrangements.

What is mediation?

Family mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which an experienced, impartial, and professionally trained mediator assists you and your family in resolving issues relating to child arrangements and/or financial issues resulting from the breakdown of a relationship. Mediation can also be helpful when trying to amend pre-existing agreements, such as child arrangements that need to be updated as children get older.

Mediation is flexible and enables you to make decisions about your family without the need to involve the court.  Mediation is a form of Non-Court Dispute Resolution.  Whilst it is voluntary there has been encouragement from the judiciary for families to attempt to resolve matters by agreement without the court’s intervention.

We are accredited and approved.

Bellwether Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 627330.
We are subject to the rules set out in the SRA Standards & Regulations, which can be accessed here.

We are proud members of Resolution.

Wiselaw Emma Kirkaldie Clay Leading Lawyer
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Why Choose Family Mediation?

  • It can be less stressful than court proceedings, as you are in control of the process.
  • It can be quicker than going to court.
  • You can make the right decisions for your family, including arrangements for children, money, and property, whether you are married, civil partners, or unmarried.
  • It can be tailored to your individual needs, such as sessions being in person or online, and the duration of the sessions.
  • It is generally cheaper than using solicitors to negotiate an agreement or court proceedings.
  • It can reduce ongoing conflict, the entrenchment of views and anxiety.
  • It can assist with non-legal issues such as different parenting styles.
Child solicitors

Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting (MIAM)

It is compulsory for anyone wanting to take a family matter to court to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment meeting (MIAM). There are limited exceptions to this, including where one party has been subjected to domestic abuse. The court requires MIAMs before issuing court proceedings as it seeks to encourage people to reach an agreement without court intervention.

A MIAM is an initial 1-2-1 meeting with a mediator. 

The mediator will invite each person to attend their own individual MIAM.  Mediation is voluntary but attendance at a MIAM is almost always required prior to an application to court.  The MIAM lasts around an hour and enables you to discuss with the mediator the issues to be resolved.  It includes an assessment as to whether mediation may be suitable for your matter together with an explanation of the other forms of Non-Court Dispute Resolution. In most circumstances where one person has a MIAM, the mediator will also invite the other person to their own MIAM at their convenience and cost.

Our firm's mediator/s are registered on the FMC website, working to the national codes of conduct and standards.

If a MIAM certificate is required for an application to court this will be provided (signed / endorsed by an authorised mediator with Family Mediation Council Accredited (FMCA) status as required by the Family Procedure Rules.

Please see the link to the Family Mediation Council (FMC) information.

We are members of Resolution who are a community of family justice professionals. Resolution members are committed to the Code of Practice, which promotes a constructive approach to family issues that considers the needs of the whole family.

Contact us

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about family mediation and how we can help you on 020 3621 0112.