{"id":128,"date":"2018-08-01T11:54:57","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T10:54:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/knowledge-base\/"},"modified":"2023-04-24T11:43:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T10:43:57","slug":"mediation-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Mediation FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div data-dblazyload=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-group has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#ffd600\"><div data-dblazyload=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Please use the tabs below to search through our frequently asked questions, or alternatively, you can use our search form below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"dbhc-wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"dbhc\">\n        <div class=\"dbhc-tabs-wrapper\" id=\"dbhc-tabs-wrapper\">\n            <ul class=\"dbhc-tabs\">\n                <li class=\"active\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-title=\"Separation\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/separation\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"286\" height=\"306\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 286 306&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/icon-separation.png\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Separation<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"128\" data-dbhc-title=\"Divorce\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/divorce\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"318\" height=\"301\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 318 301&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/icon-divorce.png\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Divorce<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"130\" data-dbhc-title=\"Mediation\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/mediation\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"502\" height=\"600\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 502 600&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mediation-icon-502x600.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mediation-icon-502x600.png 502w, https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mediation-icon.png 902w\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Mediation<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"132\" data-dbhc-title=\"Money\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/money\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"527\" height=\"600\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 527 600&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/costs-incon-527x600.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/costs-incon-527x600.png 527w, https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/costs-incon.png 968w\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Money<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"131\" data-dbhc-title=\"MIAM\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/miam\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"568\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 600 568&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/maim-icon-600x568.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/maim-icon-600x568.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/maim-icon.png 1146w\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">MIAM<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"133\" data-dbhc-title=\"Parents &amp; Parenting\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/parents-parenting\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"305\" height=\"242\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 305 242&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/icon-parents.png\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Parents &amp; Parenting<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"135\" data-dbhc-title=\"Grandparents\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/grandparents\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"293\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 248 293&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/icon-grandparents.png\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Grandparents<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"134\" data-dbhc-title=\"Children &amp; Teens\" style=\"--flex-columns: 8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/child-teens\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"247\" height=\"295\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 247 295&#039;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"db-lazy-load\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/icon-child-teens.png\" \/><span class=\"dbhc-tab-name\">Children &amp; Teens<\/span><\/a><\/li>            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"dbhc-panel-title\" id=\"dbhc-panel-title\">\n            Separation        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"dbhc-panel-description\" id=\"dbhc-panel-description\">\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"dbhc-panel-wrapper\" id=\"dbhc-panel-wrapper\">\n            <nav class=\"dbhc-navigation-wrapper\">\n                <ul class=\"dbhc-navigation\">\n                    <li class=\"active\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-a=\"34980\" data-dbhc-title=\"Separation Introduction\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/separation\/separation-introduction\/\"><span class=\"dbhc-nav-name\">Separation Introduction<\/span><span class=\"dbhc-nav-go\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-a=\"5858\" data-dbhc-title=\"How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/divorce\/how-are-things-different-between-those-who-have-been-living-together-and-people-who-are-married\/\"><span class=\"dbhc-nav-name\">How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?<\/span><span class=\"dbhc-nav-go\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-a=\"10212\" data-dbhc-title=\"What happens if we are in a civil partnership?\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/divorce\/what-happens-if-we-are-in-a-civil-partnership\/\"><span class=\"dbhc-nav-name\">What happens if we are in a civil partnership?<\/span><span class=\"dbhc-nav-go\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-a=\"23276\" data-dbhc-title=\"Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/divorce\/who-gets-to-stay-in-the-house-during-separation\/\"><span class=\"dbhc-nav-name\">Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?<\/span><span class=\"dbhc-nav-go\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-a=\"29008\" data-dbhc-title=\"What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/mediation\/what-is-the-government-family-mediation-voucher-scheme\/\"><span class=\"dbhc-nav-name\">What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\/span><span class=\"dbhc-nav-go\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"\" data-dbhc-t=\"143\" data-dbhc-a=\"36642\" data-dbhc-title=\"What happens to pets during divorce or separation?\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/mediation-faq\/divorce\/what-happens-to-pets-during-divorce-or-separation\/\"><span class=\"dbhc-nav-name\">What happens to pets during divorce or separation?<\/span><span class=\"dbhc-nav-go\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/li>                <\/ul>\n            <\/nav>\n            <div class=\"dbhc-data-wrapper\" id=\"dbhc-data-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"dbhc-data\">\n                    <h2>Separation Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>Separation mediation is a conversation between two people who have been in some form of relationship which is ending. If you are married, in a civil partnership, or have been cohabiting with your partner and are now separating, we can help you to make arrangements for any joint property, finance and children through mediation. Carry on reading for answers to your marriage mediation questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>National Family Mediation (NFM) accredited mediators are trained in all aspects of family law, including the specific laws relating to people who have lived together but are not married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Living together and being married do not amount to the same thing when people separate, however long they have been together. The court will deal with things differently for people who have never been married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Separation Mediation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mediation aims to help make decisions for the future about issues affecting you both. So it covers things like&nbsp;<strong>parenting, property<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>money<\/strong>, without the use of courts. Mediation is usually quicker and cheaper than going to court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any marriage mediation questions, or need help with mediation for separation, please browse this website or call us on 0300 4000 636 .<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We offer family mediation without leaving your home.&nbsp;<strong>Video conferencing services are now available:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/about-family-mediation-services\/book-an-appointment\/\">to book an appointment click here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though a separation may have been expected, marriage and partnerships can be strong bonds, so it\u2019s not surprising that the effect of breaking those bonds can be devastating. You may not have expected it, meant it to happen or have been able to prevent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as dealing with the emotional impact of divorce or separation, there are also a host of practical issues to think about and decisions to make such as \u2018how do we end it, and what do we do about the kids, the money and the family home?\u2019&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/decided-to-divorce-or-separate-what-next\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read our guide on the things you need to think about first, to help you and your family through this difficult transition.&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<script>\n    var dbhc_tab_titles = {\"t143\":\"Separation\",\"t128\":\"Divorce\",\"t130\":\"Mediation\",\"t132\":\"Money\",\"t131\":\"MIAM\",\"t133\":\"Parents & Parenting\",\"t135\":\"Grandparents\",\"t134\":\"Children & Teens\"};\n    var dbhc_tab_descriptions = {\"t143\":\"\",\"t128\":\"\",\"t130\":\"\",\"t132\":\"\",\"t131\":\"\",\"t133\":\"\",\"t135\":\"\",\"t134\":\"\"};\n    var dbhc_left_tabs = {\"t143\":{\"a34980\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"143\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34980\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Separation Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/separation\\\/separation-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Separation Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a36642\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"143\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"36642\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens to pets during divorce or separation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-happens-to-pets-during-divorce-or-separation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens to pets during divorce or separation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a29008\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"143\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"29008\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-government-family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a23276\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"143\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"23276\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/who-gets-to-stay-in-the-house-during-separation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10212\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"143\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10212\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens if we are in a civil partnership?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-happens-if-we-are-in-a-civil-partnership\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens if we are in a civil partnership?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a5858\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"143\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"5858\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/how-are-things-different-between-those-who-have-been-living-together-and-people-who-are-married\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t128\":{\"a34377\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34377\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Divorce Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/divorce-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Divorce Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a36642\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"36642\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens to pets during divorce or separation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-happens-to-pets-during-divorce-or-separation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens to pets during divorce or separation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a23276\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"23276\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/who-gets-to-stay-in-the-house-during-separation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10207\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10207\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the divorce process?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-is-the-divorce-process\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the divorce process?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a25470\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"25470\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How long does it take to get a divorce in the UK?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-divorce-in-the-uk\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How long does it take to get a divorce in the UK?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a24194\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"24194\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What are the grounds for seeking a divorce?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-are-the-grounds-for-seeking-a-divorce\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What are the grounds for seeking a divorce?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a23274\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"23274\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/how-long-do-you-have-to-be-separated-before-divorce-is-automatic\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10200\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10200\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Where do I issue divorce proceedings?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/where-do-i-issue-divorce-proceedings\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Where do I issue divorce proceedings?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10202\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10202\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What do I base a divorce application on?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-do-i-base-a-divorce-petition-on\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What do I base a divorce application on?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10204\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10204\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Does it matter which of us issues the divorce proceedings?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/does-it-matter-which-of-us-issues-the-divorce-proceedings\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Does it matter which of us issues the divorce proceedings?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10210\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10210\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Do we need to divorce at this stage?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/do-we-need-to-divorce-at-this-stage\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Do we need to divorce at this stage?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10212\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10212\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens if we are in a civil partnership?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/what-happens-if-we-are-in-a-civil-partnership\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens if we are in a civil partnership?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a5858\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"128\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"5858\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/how-are-things-different-between-those-who-have-been-living-together-and-people-who-are-married\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t130\":{\"a34380\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34380\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Mediation Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/mediation-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Mediation Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a35479\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"35479\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How can family mediation help?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/grandparents\\\/how-can-family-mediation-help\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How can family mediation help?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a35670\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"35670\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"I don't get on with my ex, will mediation still work for us?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/i-dont-get-on-with-my-ex-will-mediation-still-work-for-us\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">I don't get on with my ex, will mediation still work for us?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37286\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37286\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Is family mediation means tested?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/family-mediation-means-tested\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Is family mediation means tested?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a35669\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"35669\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Is my case suitable for mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/is-my-case-suitable-for-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Is my case suitable for mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37285\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37285\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What are the benefits of mediation for children?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/benefits-of-mediation-for-children\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What are the benefits of mediation for children?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a36234\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"36234\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is 'Help With Mediation'?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/separation\\\/what-is-help-with-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is 'Help With Mediation'?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37147\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37147\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is Child Inclusive Mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37293\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37293\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is compulsory mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-compulsory-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is compulsory mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a29008\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"29008\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-government-family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37465\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37465\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the mediation process?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-mediation-process\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the mediation process?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37287\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37287\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Who Pays For Mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/who-pays-for-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Who Pays For Mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a35672\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"35672\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Why isn't my mediation going ahead?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/why-isnt-my-mediation-going-ahead\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Why isn't my mediation going ahead?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a302\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"302\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is legally aided family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-legally-aided-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is legally aided family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a154\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"154\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a26129\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"26129\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is a MIAM?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/what-is-a-miam\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is a MIAM?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a25399\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"25399\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How much does family mediation cost?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/how-much-are-family-mediation-fees\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How much does family mediation cost?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a297\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"297\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"If I want to go ahead with family mediation, what do I do next?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/if-we-decide-to-go-ahead-what-do-we-do-next\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">If I want to go ahead with family mediation, what do I do next?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a264\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"264\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens if my ex won\\u2019t go to mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-happens-if-my-ex-wont-go-to-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens if my ex won\\u2019t go to mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a285\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"285\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Instead of family mediation, is it simpler to go straight to a solicitor?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/isnt-it-simpler-to-go-straight-to-a-lawyer-solicitor\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Instead of family mediation, is it simpler to go straight to a solicitor?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a283\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"283\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Is family mediation compulsory?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/is-family-mediation-compulsory\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Is family mediation compulsory?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a272\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"272\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How quickly can I see a family mediator?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/how-quickly-can-i-see-a-mediator\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How quickly can I see a family mediator?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a243\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"243\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the role of the family mediator?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-mediators-role\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the role of the family mediator?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a252\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"130\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"252\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What makes NFM\\u2019s style of mediation different? What will the mediator do?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-makes-nfms-style-of-mediation-different\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What makes NFM\\u2019s style of mediation different? What will the mediator do?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t132\":{\"a34382\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34382\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Money Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/money\\\/money-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Money Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37286\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37286\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Is family mediation means tested?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/family-mediation-means-tested\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Is family mediation means tested?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a29008\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"29008\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-government-family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37287\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37287\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Who Pays For Mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/who-pays-for-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Who Pays For Mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a302\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"302\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is legally aided family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-legally-aided-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is legally aided family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a11850\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"11850\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Where do we start with finances now we are separating?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/money\\\/where-do-we-start-with-finances-now-we-are-separating\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Where do we start with finances now we are separating?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a23272\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"23272\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What am I entitled to if I divorce or separate from my partner?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/money\\\/what-am-i-entitled-to-if-i-separate-from-my-husband\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What am I entitled to if I divorce or separate from my partner?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a27673\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"27673\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens to pensions when you divorce?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/money\\\/what-needs-to-happen-about-pensions-when-you-divorce\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens to pensions when you divorce?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a11852\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"11852\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How do I support my child financially after separation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/money\\\/how-do-i-support-my-child-financially-after-separation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How do I support my child financially after separation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a25472\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"25472\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How much child maintenance should I pay?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/how-much-child-maintenance-should-i-pay\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How much child maintenance should I pay?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10214\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10214\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How does our financial agreement fit in with the divorce process?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/divorce\\\/how-does-our-financial-agreement-fit-in-with-the-divorce-process\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How does our financial agreement fit in with the divorce process?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a25399\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"25399\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How much does family mediation cost?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/how-much-are-family-mediation-fees\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How much does family mediation cost?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a10262\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"132\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"10262\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What happens to the home in divorce or separation? What right do I have to stay there?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/money\\\/what-happens-to-the-home-in-divorce-or-separation-what-right-do-i-have-to-stay-there\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What happens to the home in divorce or separation? What right do I have to stay there?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t131\":{\"a34381\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34381\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"MIAM Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/miam-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">MIAM Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a26182\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"26182\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Can I do a MIAM virtually?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/can-i-do-a-miam-by-zoom\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Can I do a MIAM virtually?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a35671\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"35671\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Do I have to attend a MIAM?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/do-i-have-to-attend-a-miam\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Do I have to attend a MIAM?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a35139\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"35139\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How much does a MIAM cost?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/how-much-does-a-miam-cost\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How much does a MIAM cost?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37272\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37272\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"When do I need a MIAM?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/when-do-i-need-a-miam\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">When do I need a MIAM?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a26129\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"26129\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is a MIAM?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/what-is-a-miam\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is a MIAM?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a281\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"131\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"281\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What if my ex lives in a different part of the country?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/what-if-my-ex-lives-in-a-different-part-of-the-country\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What if my ex lives in a different part of the country?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t133\":{\"a34383\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34383\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Parents & Parenting Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/parents-parenting-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Parents & Parenting Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a34624\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34624\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Can I ask for a DNA paternity test?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/can-i-ask-for-a-dna-paternity-test\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Can I ask for a DNA paternity test?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a34626\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34626\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Can I demand my ex-partner take a Drug\\\/Alcohol Test?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/can-i-demand-my-ex-partner-take-a-drug-alcohol-test\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Can I demand my ex-partner take a Drug\\\/Alcohol Test?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37147\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37147\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is Child Inclusive Mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a29008\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"29008\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-government-family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a25472\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"25472\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How much child maintenance should I pay?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/how-much-child-maintenance-should-i-pay\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How much child maintenance should I pay?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a154\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"154\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a3526\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"3526\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is a Separated Parents Information Programme?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-a-separated-parents-information-programme\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is a Separated Parents Information Programme?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a293\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"293\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Can a child have a say in family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/can-my-child-have-a-say-during-mediation-its-their-future-after-all\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Can a child have a say in family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a4923\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"4923\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is parental responsibility?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-parental-responsibility-2\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is parental responsibility?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a6257\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"6257\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Do I need my ex's permission to take our child on holiday?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/do-i-need-my-exs-permission-to-take-our-child-on-holiday\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Do I need my ex's permission to take our child on holiday?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a5146\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"5146\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is a CAFCASS Report?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-a-cafcass-report\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is a CAFCASS Report?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a5144\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"5144\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What does the court consider when making an order under the Children Act 1989?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-does-the-court-consider-when-making-an-order-under-the-children-act-1989\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What does the court consider when making an order under the Children Act 1989?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a5148\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"133\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"5148\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"How does child protection legislation affect our situation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/how-does-child-protection-legislation-affect-matters\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">How does child protection legislation affect our situation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t135\":{\"a34385\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"135\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34385\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Grandparents Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/grandparents\\\/grandparents-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Grandparents Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a154\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"135\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"154\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a1399\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"135\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"1399\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What grandparents need to know about mediation\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/grandparents\\\/first-foremost-what-grandparents-need-to-know-about-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What grandparents need to know about mediation<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a293\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"135\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"293\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Can a child have a say in family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/can-my-child-have-a-say-during-mediation-its-their-future-after-all\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Can a child have a say in family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a5096\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"135\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"5096\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"I am a grandparent ... can I apply for residence or contact?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/grandparents\\\/i-am-a-grandparent-can-i-apply-for-residence-or-contact\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">I am a grandparent ... can I apply for residence or contact?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"},\"t134\":{\"a34384\":\"<li class=\\\"active\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"134\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34384\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"Children & Teens Introduction\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/child-teens\\\/children-teens-introduction\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">Children & Teens Introduction<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a34992\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"134\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"34992\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"As a child can I have a say in family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/child-teens\\\/as-a-child-can-i-have-a-say-in-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">As a child can I have a say in family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a37147\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"134\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"37147\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is Child Inclusive Mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a29008\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"134\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"29008\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-the-government-family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\",\"a154\":\"<li class=\\\"\\\" data-dbhc-t=\\\"134\\\" data-dbhc-a=\\\"154\\\" data-dbhc-title=\\\"What is family mediation?\\\"><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/parents-parenting\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\"><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-name\\\">What is family mediation?<\\\/span><span class=\\\"dbhc-nav-go\\\"><i class=\\\"fal fa-angle-right\\\"><\\\/i><\\\/span><\\\/a><\\\/li>\"}};\n    var dbhc_data = {\"t143\":{\"a34980\":\"<h2>Separation Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Separation mediation is a conversation between two people who have been in some form of relationship which is ending. If you are married, in a civil partnership, or have been cohabiting with your partner and are now separating, we can help you to make arrangements for any joint property, finance and children through mediation. Carry on reading for answers to your marriage mediation questions.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>National Family Mediation (NFM) accredited mediators are trained in all aspects of family law, including the specific laws relating to people who have lived together but are not married.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Living together and being married do not amount to the same thing when people separate, however long they have been together. The court will deal with things differently for people who have never been married.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Separation Mediation<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Mediation aims to help make decisions for the future about issues affecting you both. So it covers things like&nbsp;<strong>parenting, property<\\\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>money<\\\/strong>, without the use of courts. Mediation is usually quicker and cheaper than going to court.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you have any marriage mediation questions, or need help with mediation for separation, please browse this website or call us on 0300 4000 636 .<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>We offer family mediation without leaving your home.&nbsp;<strong>Video conferencing services are now available:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">to book an appointment click here<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Even though a separation may have been expected, marriage and partnerships can be strong bonds, so it\\u2019s not surprising that the effect of breaking those bonds can be devastating. You may not have expected it, meant it to happen or have been able to prevent it.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>As well as dealing with the emotional impact of divorce or separation, there are also a host of practical issues to think about and decisions to make such as \\u2018how do we end it, and what do we do about the kids, the money and the family home?\\u2019&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/decided-to-divorce-or-separate-what-next\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Read our guide on the things you need to think about first, to help you and your family through this difficult transition.&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a36642\":\"<h2>What happens to pets during divorce or separation?<\\\/h2>\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Pets and Divorce. <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you and your partner are separating and you both want to keep your pet, it\\u2019s important to first try to come to a mutual agreement. This is sometimes easier said than done and is why family mediation can be an invaluable resource for couples who are divorcing or separating. Family mediation provides an impartial and confidential space for couples to come together and discuss their options and reach an agreement on who will take ownership of the pet.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>We also know that some people who are experiencing domestic violence fear what may happen to their pet if they leave it behind, as many refuges can\\u2019t accept pets. There are a variety of organisations that offer free and confidential temporary care for pets, for example, the&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dogstrust.org.uk\\\/how-we-help\\\/freedom-project\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Dogs Trust Freedom Project<\\\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/refuge4pets.org.uk\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Refuge4Pets<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you would like to try and reach agreement with your ex on arrangements for your <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/divorce-who-gets-the-dog\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">pet read<\\\/a> <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/divorce-who-gets-the-dog\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">our advice page.<\\\/a> <\\\/p>\\n\",\"a29008\":\"<h2>What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/h2><p>NFM is participating in the Government\\u2019s <strong>family mediation voucher scheme<\\\/strong>. <span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">It means \\u00a3500 is being made available for separating families with children, to go towards the cost of using accredited family mediation services.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">Family separation always brings a number of expenses, and this contribution towards making vital parenting arrangements through mediation will help reduce these costs \\u2013 whilst helping families ensure the settlements that are made are in everyone\\u2019s interests.\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">The voucher scheme is open to mediation participants who attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) on or after\\u00a0<\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">26 March 2021. The \\u00a3500 voucher is <strong>not<\\\/strong> useable to pay for the MIAM itself, but for the mediation that follows.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Find out more about the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\">mediation voucher scheme here<\\\/a> or call us on <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong> <\\\/a>to find out if you are eligible for a voucher.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a23276\":\"<h2>Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?<\\\/h2><p>When a couple begins separation or divorce planning, this question is at the forefront of many people\\u2019s minds. However, the question is not simple to answer. Many factors will influence the decision about who stays in the home you\\u2019ve been living in together: such as where the children will live, whether you are renting or own the home (with or without a mortgage) and each person\\u2019s financial situation.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The law is different for people who have never married and have only lived together, but you will be concerned about what happens to your home now you have separated.<\\\/p>\\n<p>People in this situation often need separation advice to ensure they plan their future lives in a constructive way, and our expert family mediators can help. <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">You can book an appointment here.\\u00a0<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10212\":\"<h2>What happens if we are in a civil partnership?<\\\/h2><p>If you are seeking to dissolve a civil partnership, the process is the same for divorce proceedings. The proceedings are started by an application that can be made individually, or jointly.<\\\/p>\\n<p>There is the conditional and final order and the grounds are the same \\u2013 the irretrievable breakdown of the partnership.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a5858\":\"<h2>How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?<\\\/h2><p><strong>If you are married<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>Some married couples separate but never divorce, being happy to simply stay apart. All you need to do to be legally separated is live apart.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Officially, you can even be separated but still live under the same roof, if you arrange your household so that you no longer sleep or eat together and you do not do domestic chores, such as washing or ironing, for each other.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you decide not to get divorced, your marital assets and debts will remain joint in the eyes of the law. This may not be a problem for many couples, but it\\u2019s a good idea to think what impact it might have on future life changes, for instance, if you want to move in with a new partner.<\\\/p>\\n<p><strong>If you are not married<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>If you own or rent a property then any dispute about what happens to it will be dealt with through property and trust law rather than matrimonial law.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Many people believe that living together creates some protection through \\u2018common law\\u2019 but this is not the case.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you have children there are laws to ensure that financial provision can be made for them (for instance somewhere to live and sufficient child support) but generally, if you are not married there is no expectation that one person can claim any of the assets owned by the other.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Some of the questions that mediation can help you solve are: If the property is in a sole name, have you made equal contributions to the mortgage and upkeep of the property? Are you tenants in common or joint tenants?<\\\/p>\\n<p>What will happen to our joint accounts? What about maintenance for myself? Does the fact that you have children make a difference to the property?<\\\/p>\\n<p>Mediation for couples who have never been married provides much more flexibility than the law for decisions you may choose to make about what were once your shared possessions and assets. For many, this provides a much fairer outcome especially if you have children<\\\/p>\\n<p>Our expert mediators are able to help you tailor an agreement that fits your specific circumstances. <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\">Type your postcode to find your nearest family mediator.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\"},\"t128\":{\"a34377\":\"<h2>Divorce Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Divorce mediation can help you work out arrangements for your children, \\ufb01nance and property.  Even though a divorce or separation may have been expected, marriage and partnerships can be strong bonds, so it\\u2019s not surprising that the effect of breaking those bonds can be devastating. You may not have expected it, meant it to happen or have been able to prevent it.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>As well as dealing with the emotional impact of divorce or separation, there are also a host of practical issues to think about and decisions to make such as \\u2018how do we end it, and what do we do about the kids, the money and the family home?<strong>&#8216; <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/download\\\/37726\\\/?tmstv=1704455290\\\">Download our free guide to divorce and separation, where you&#8217;ll find insights, advice and some practical steps needed to handle both the legal and emotional aspects of divorce or separation. <\\\/a><\\\/strong>If you would like to receive a\\u00a0<strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">free mediation information pack by email click here<\\\/a>.<\\\/strong> <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can get divorced if you have been married for one year. The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act April 2022 introduces \\u201cno-fault\\u201d divorce which means the only ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. You will need to provide a statement to that effect.  <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/no-fault-divorce\\\/\\\">Y<strong>ou can read more about the new &#8216;no-fault&#8217; divorce rules and timing here. <\\\/strong><\\\/a>Most applications for divorce will now be made online although in some circumstances there is still the ability to file a paper application. <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/divorce\\\/file-for-divorce\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Click here to access the divorce application forms.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>When you do get a divorce the court will be able to make orders about \\ufb01nancial and property matters too if one or other or both of you makes an application. Usually, you do not need to appear in court personally to get a divorce.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you have children you will need to put in place arrangements for the children now you are no longer married and you can choose how to make arrangements for looking after your children if you separate from your partner.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You and your ex-partner can usually avoid going to court hearings if you can reach agreement on:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>where the children will live<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>how much time they will spend with each parent<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>how you will financially support your children<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/child-maintenance-service\\\/what-child-maintenance-is\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">agree on child maintenance<\\\/a><\\\/strong> at the same time or separately. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading has-accent-color has-text-color\\\"><strong>Get help agreeing<\\\/strong><\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Mediation provides the best forum for discussing how to make future arrangements following your divorce. We understand it can be difficult to have a constructive discussion when emotions are raw but our trained mediators will help you turn your arguments into agreements and avoid lengthy and costly court proceedings. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<div class=\\\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"wp-block-button\\\"><a class=\\\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\\\" href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\"><strong>Contact us to book a meeting with a mediator<\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/div>\\n<\\\/div>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>We offer family mediation without leaving your home through video conferencing services.  <\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>To discuss your situation in the divorce process and find out how our experts can help, you can call our mediation team on <strong><a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\">0300 400 0636,<\\\/a><\\\/strong> or email<strong>&nbsp;<a href=\\\"mailto:mediation@nfm.org.uk\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">mediation@nfm.org.uk<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a36642\":\"<h2>What happens to pets during divorce or separation?<\\\/h2>\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Pets and Divorce. <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you and your partner are separating and you both want to keep your pet, it\\u2019s important to first try to come to a mutual agreement. This is sometimes easier said than done and is why family mediation can be an invaluable resource for couples who are divorcing or separating. Family mediation provides an impartial and confidential space for couples to come together and discuss their options and reach an agreement on who will take ownership of the pet.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>We also know that some people who are experiencing domestic violence fear what may happen to their pet if they leave it behind, as many refuges can\\u2019t accept pets. There are a variety of organisations that offer free and confidential temporary care for pets, for example, the&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dogstrust.org.uk\\\/how-we-help\\\/freedom-project\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Dogs Trust Freedom Project<\\\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/refuge4pets.org.uk\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Refuge4Pets<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you would like to try and reach agreement with your ex on arrangements for your <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/divorce-who-gets-the-dog\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">pet read<\\\/a> <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/divorce-who-gets-the-dog\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">our advice page.<\\\/a> <\\\/p>\\n\",\"a23276\":\"<h2>Who gets to stay in the house during separation or divorce ?<\\\/h2><p>When a couple begins separation or divorce planning, this question is at the forefront of many people\\u2019s minds. However, the question is not simple to answer. Many factors will influence the decision about who stays in the home you\\u2019ve been living in together: such as where the children will live, whether you are renting or own the home (with or without a mortgage) and each person\\u2019s financial situation.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The law is different for people who have never married and have only lived together, but you will be concerned about what happens to your home now you have separated.<\\\/p>\\n<p>People in this situation often need separation advice to ensure they plan their future lives in a constructive way, and our expert family mediators can help. <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">You can book an appointment here.\\u00a0<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10207\":\"<h2>What is the divorce process?<\\\/h2><p>You can get divorced if you have been married for one year. The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act April 2022 introduces \\u201cno-fault\\u201d divorce which means the only ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. You will need to provide a statement to that effect.&nbsp; <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/no-fault-divorce\\\/\\\">You can read more about &#8216;no-fault&#8217; divorce here.&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>Most applications for divorce will now be made online although in some circumstances there is still the ability to file a paper application. <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/divorce\\\/file-for-divorce\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Click here to access the divorce application process.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>You will need to decide if you want to make a joint application with your ex-husband or wife or if you want to apply on your own.<\\\/p>\\n<p>It will take around 6 months to get a divorce and the cost of applying for a divorce is \\u00a3593.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Once your application has been accepted by the court you can apply for a conditional order after 20 weeks. The purpose of this break period is to allow couples to put in place arrangements for the children and to make financial arrangements following separation.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You may need support discussing how you are going to work together as parents and how you will separate your finances. Mediation can help you to do this.<\\\/p>\\n<p>To book an appointment <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">complete our application form<\\\/a> or call us on <a href=\\\"call:03004000636\\\">0300 4000 636<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>At the end of 20 weeks, you can then apply for a final order. The court will grant the final order after 6 weeks.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Usually, you do not need to appear in court personally to get a divorce and you would not have to appear in court if you have reached an agreement about your children and your finances.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a25470\":\"<h2>How long does it take to get a divorce in the UK?<\\\/h2><p>The formal divorce process is supposed to take six months before it becomes legally finalised.<\\\/p>\\n<p>However, a number of factors can influence the length, including the complexity of any issues you need to sort out between you regarding parenting, money or property. You are more likely to avoid delays in finalising your divorce if you are able to agree what will happen for the children your property and finances. Family mediation will help you settle these important issues so you can move on with your life.<\\\/p>\\n<p>To make an appointment with mediator <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\"><strong>complete our booking form<\\\/strong><\\\/a> or call us on<a href=\\\"call:03004000636\\\"><strong> 0300 4000 636<\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>Agreements reached in mediation can be used to form the basis of any court order you might need, including a financial order that will provide certainty for the future.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the speed at which family courts have been able to operate. This means there are significant delays getting your case into court if you cannot agree a way forward with your ex and need the court to intervene.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a24194\":\"<h2>What are the grounds for seeking a divorce?<\\\/h2><p>You can get divorced if you have been married for one year. The only \\u201cground\\u201d for divorce is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You can apply for a divorce singly, in which case you will be known as the applicant, and your ex-partner known as the respondent, or you can apply for divorce jointly in which case you will both be known as applicants.\\u00a0 <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/no-fault-divorce\\\/\\\">You can find out more about &#8216;no-fault&#8217; divorce here<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n<p>In a sole application, the respondent is not able to dispute that the marriage has broken down and can only dispute the application because:<\\\/p>\\n<ul>\\n<li>They dispute the jurisdiction of the court in England and Wales to conduct the proceedings. For example, where neither party lives in or has any other connection with England and Wales;<\\\/li>\\n<li>They dispute the validity of the marriage or civil partnership. For example, if the parties have not entered into a legally valid marriage;<\\\/li>\\n<li>The marriage or civil partnership has already been legally ended. For example, if the marriage has already been brought to an end in proceedings outside of England and Wales.<\\\/li>\\n<li>It will also be possible to challenge proceedings for reasons such as fraud and procedural<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n<p>Usually, you do not need to appear in court personally to get a divorce.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You can apply for your divorce online here :\\u00a0<strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/divorce\\\/file-for-divorce\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/divorce\\\/file-for-divorce<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>Or the of\\ufb01ce at your local County Court, who will have the necessary forms to complete.<\\\/p>\\n<p>NFM family mediation services can help you work out arrangements for the children and\\\/or \\ufb01nance and property. <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\"><strong>Click here to book an appointment with a family mediator.<\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a23274\":\"<h2>How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?<\\\/h2><p style=\\\"margin: 0cm;\\\"><span style=\\\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #303030; letter-spacing: .25pt;\\\">There is no such thing as \\u2018automatic\\u2019 divorce. You will need to go through the legal divorce process to achieve divorce.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10200\":\"<h2>Where do I issue divorce proceedings?<\\\/h2><p>An application can be made online here : <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/divorce\\\/file-for-divorce\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/divorce\\\/file-for-divorce<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>If you are unable to complete the online process, you can visit your local county court to obtain the relevant forms.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10202\":\"<h2>What do I base a divorce application on?<\\\/h2><p><span style=\\\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #303030; letter-spacing: .25pt;\\\">There is only one ground for the dissolution of the marriage i.e. that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10204\":\"<h2>Does it matter which of us issues the divorce proceedings?<\\\/h2><p>It generally doesn&#8217;t matter who starts the divorce process, and you\\u2019re able to make a joint application if that is what you would prefer.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If one of you makes the application the other is notified and has to respond to the application. You will still need to start making arrangements for your children and finances, but the fact that a single or joint application should not make a difference to the court decision, providing what you are proposing is fair and the children\\u2019s needs are met.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10210\":\"<h2>Do we need to divorce at this stage?<\\\/h2><p>There are other options. You may come across a decree of judicial separation. This can be obtained but the decree of judicial separation does not end the marriage \\u2013 it just states that you can live separate and apart from each other.<\\\/p>\\n<p>It is sometimes used for religious reasons or where someone does not want a divorce yet they want access to the financial relief claims available.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The marriage could also be annulled. Nullity petitions bring an end to the marriage and the marriage can be treated as void or voidable. Financial relief is also open to the parties to nullity<br \\\/>\\npetitions.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you do not intend to issue proceedings at this stage then it is possible to incorporate your proposals into a Deed of Separation. As long as there has been full disclosure and you have received legal advice it is likely that any agreement you record will be upheld by the court at the time when the divorce goes through. If you are not married then your proposals can also be incorporated into a Deed of Separation.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10212\":\"<h2>What happens if we are in a civil partnership?<\\\/h2><p>If you are seeking to dissolve a civil partnership, the process is the same for divorce proceedings. The proceedings are started by an application that can be made individually, or jointly.<\\\/p>\\n<p>There is the conditional and final order and the grounds are the same \\u2013 the irretrievable breakdown of the partnership.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a5858\":\"<h2>How are things different between those who have been living together and people who are married?<\\\/h2><p><strong>If you are married<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>Some married couples separate but never divorce, being happy to simply stay apart. All you need to do to be legally separated is live apart.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Officially, you can even be separated but still live under the same roof, if you arrange your household so that you no longer sleep or eat together and you do not do domestic chores, such as washing or ironing, for each other.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you decide not to get divorced, your marital assets and debts will remain joint in the eyes of the law. This may not be a problem for many couples, but it\\u2019s a good idea to think what impact it might have on future life changes, for instance, if you want to move in with a new partner.<\\\/p>\\n<p><strong>If you are not married<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>If you own or rent a property then any dispute about what happens to it will be dealt with through property and trust law rather than matrimonial law.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Many people believe that living together creates some protection through \\u2018common law\\u2019 but this is not the case.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you have children there are laws to ensure that financial provision can be made for them (for instance somewhere to live and sufficient child support) but generally, if you are not married there is no expectation that one person can claim any of the assets owned by the other.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Some of the questions that mediation can help you solve are: If the property is in a sole name, have you made equal contributions to the mortgage and upkeep of the property? Are you tenants in common or joint tenants?<\\\/p>\\n<p>What will happen to our joint accounts? What about maintenance for myself? Does the fact that you have children make a difference to the property?<\\\/p>\\n<p>Mediation for couples who have never been married provides much more flexibility than the law for decisions you may choose to make about what were once your shared possessions and assets. For many, this provides a much fairer outcome especially if you have children<\\\/p>\\n<p>Our expert mediators are able to help you tailor an agreement that fits your specific circumstances. <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\">Type your postcode to find your nearest family mediator.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\"},\"t130\":{\"a34380\":\"<h2>Mediation Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Family mediation is a way of giving you the control to make your own decisions during separation or divorce.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Our mediation\\u00a0service is quicker and MUCH less expensive than the traditional court and legal process. The mediation process is also less stressful and produces better outcomes for you and your family.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation helps couples who have decided to separate or divorce make decisions for the future. With the help of an impartial mediator, couples \\ufb01nd ways to communicate better and reduce con\\ufb02ict between them as a result of our family mediation service, helping them to turn their arguments into agreements.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a35479\":\"<h2>How can family mediation help?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Family mediation is a way of giving you the control to make your own decisions during your separation or divorce.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation helps couples who have decided to separate, or divorce make decisions for their future. With the help of an impartial mediator, couples \\ufb01nd ways to communicate better and reduce the con\\ufb02ict between them, enabling them to turn their arguments into agreements, so that they can both move on with their lives.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation can also help separated parents learn to co-parent together &#8211; <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/tips-for-successful-co-parenting\\\/\\\">read our tips and advice on how to successfully co-parent together after divorce or separation.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Mediation is also quicker, less stressful, and much less expensive than the traditional court and legal process and it produces better outcomes for you and your family.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n    <div class=\\\"db-accordion \\\" id=\\\"accordion-block_8cfb2f3b474f8ad02b4c427246dd4c5e\\\" data-behaviour=\\\"accordion\\\" data-fx=\\\"show\\\" data-speed=\\\"300\\\">\\n\\n                        <div class=\\\"db-accordion-item \\\" data-item=\\\"1\\\" data-toggle=\\\"closed\\\" data-init=\\\"closed\\\">\\n                    <div class=\\\"db-accordion-item-title\\\">\\n                        Read how family mediation helped Tyler and Abi                    <\\\/div>\\n                    <div class=\\\"db-accordion-item-content\\\" style=\\\"display:none\\\">\\n                        <p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Tyler and Abi\\u2019s case was referred to NFM mediators following the initial directions hearing at the court.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Tyler had applied for contact to be defined. He felt that his ex-wife Abi, was limiting contact in an obstructive way. They have two children, Aaron, 9, and Madison, 11.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">At the start Abi said Tyler did not deserve any more than minimal contact as he had left the family for a younger woman, and that the children did not really want to have much to do with their father. The Court adjourned their case for six weeks for them to try mediation.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">After initial separate Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) it was apparent each parent saw the other very much as the source of the problem.\\u00a0 Abi felt very angry at \\u201cbeing dragged to court\\u201d whereas Tyler felt he had no choice as he was in danger of losing his relationship with Aaron and Madison.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">The first joint mediation session was challenging.\\u00a0 Abi took every opportunity to criticise Tyler for leaving her, and he, in turn, accused her of taking his children away from him.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">However, the mediator, Martin, was able to help them see that both were hurting in different ways. Both were afraid of loss: Tyler\\u2019s fear of losing the children was obvious, and Abi was able to admit that having lost her husband to a younger woman, she was also afraid of losing the children who might see John\\u2019s new partner, Natalie, as more fun.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Later sessions focused on reaffirming their roles as parents and reassurances that neither need \\u201close\\u201d the children. They began to look at the situation from the children\\u2019s point of view, caught in the middle of Tyler and Abi\\u2019s obvious anger and frustration, and old enough to be quite aware of the conflict and bitterness.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Abi was able to appreciate that Natalie did not want to compete for the children\\u2019s affections and indeed was quite nervous about how to respond to them. Tyler was able to see that he needed to go gently in introducing Natalie to the children rather than demand his rights.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">They agreed they wanted to test a programme of contact and built in a review of how things had gone for three months later. This provided a useful \\u2018safety net\\u2019 as both parents were anxious that their plan might fail. The court was informed of the initial outcome and adjourned the case for Tyler and Abi to test their arrangements. After the review meeting, Tyler felt able to withdraw his application for defined contact.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">At the three month review, both Tyler and Abi agreed to continue the arrangements.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">\\u201cI think a bit of the bitterness I felt towards my ex-husband will always be with me, but I do feel the mediation process started the healing,\\u201d says Abi. \\u201cLife isn\\u2019t perfect, and we realise it won\\u2019t be the same as before but I think we have all moved on and Aaron and Madison are both now much more settled.\\u201d<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\"><em>This is a real case study from our trained\\u00a0mediators, though names have been changed to protect identities<\\\/em><\\\/p>\\n                    <\\\/div>\\n                <\\\/div>\\n                \\n    <\\\/div>\\n\\n    \",\"a35670\":\"<h2>I don't get on with my ex, will mediation still work for us?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>It is not unusual for partners who separate to argue or mistrust each other\\u2019s motives and behaviour, and at times it can feel as though nothing will bring an end to the battling and arguing. But family breakdown is after all a very intensely personal event and it is hardly surprising that feelings run high.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>There is a lot said about the effectiveness of mediation and high conflict, especially by other services that are not specialists in this field. As a specialist service with 40 years experience we know absolutely confidently that Mediators can and do work together with ex-partners to help them settle their disputes, no matter how angry people might be. Being in a state of high conflict is not a barrier to using mediation, provided you are prepared to work with your mediator to achieve your goals of ending the conflict and moving forward.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37286\":\"<h2>Is family mediation means tested?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Legal Aid is available to cover the costs of family mediation services for families in dispute. \\u00a0Legal Aid is means-tested, so you have to provide evidence of your current financial circumstances to prove you\\u2019re entitled to receive it.\\u00a0 If you are eligible, then Legal Aid will cover your individual mediation costs and also covers the cost of the initial appointment and first mediation meeting for the other person, if they are not eligible in their own right.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-legally-aided-family-mediation\\\/\\\">You can read more about Legal Aid here.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a35669\":\"<h2>Is my case suitable for mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Most cases and most disputes are suitable for mediation. There are some exceptions but even in these cases if you have a meeting with a mediator you will be in a better position to make an informed decision about whether to proceed.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37285\":\"<h2>What are the benefits of mediation for children?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>The benefits of mediation for children are plentiful, and choosing family mediation to resolve issues relating to your divorce or separation is not only cheaper and faster but much less stressful for all involved than going through the court process.&nbsp; In particular, it offers numerous benefits for children whose parents are divorcing or separating including :<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Reduced stress and anxiety.&nbsp; <\\\/strong>Mediation provides a less confrontational setting than a court battle.&nbsp; This helps to reduce the emotional stress children may experience, as they are not exposed to the intense conflict that often accompanies litigation, which can foster hostility between parents. Mediation promotes cooperation, reducing tension and potential negative impacts on the children.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Gives children a voice.<\\\/strong> Child Inclusive Mediation takes the children\\u2019s needs and feelings into account, gives them a voice in the decisions that will affect their lives, and ensures that they feel heard and valued.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Faster Resolutions. <\\\/strong>Choosing mediation to resolve your issues is much faster than the lengthy court process.&nbsp; Court applications can take over 24 months to be finalised, by using mediation you can reduce this down to 2 months.&nbsp; This means you can reach swift conclusions which allow you and your children to move on with your lives faster.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Improved Communication.<\\\/strong> Mediation encourages open and constructive communication between parents and children. It encourages them to articulate their thoughts and feelings clearly, promoting healthier relationships and minimises any misunderstandings.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Emphasis on co-parenting.<\\\/strong> Mediation focuses on finding solutions that support effective co-parenting. This approach ensures that children continue to receive support, love and attention from both parents, helping to promote a sense of stability in their lives.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Choosing mediation over court to address issues relating to your divorce or separation benefits children in many ways, by providing a more child-centred, amicable, and supportive process that can positively impact your children\\u2019s well-being during and after your separation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\">Read more about how family mediation works here. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a36234\":\"<h2>What is 'Help With Mediation'?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Help with Family Mediation is a separate service provided by a solicitor to support the family mediation process. It is limited funding for legal advice and assistance in making mediated agreements legally binding. You will need to have attended at least one mediation session and concluded mediation within 4 months of applying for Help with Mediation. Your mediator will be able to provide you with more information.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37147\":\"<h2>What is Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Child Inclusive Mediation gives children a voice and an opportunity to share their worries, and concerns and contribute to the plans for the future when their parents have decided to divorce or separate. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>When children have been allowed to share their views in mediation, parents work together to make sure their children&#8217;s voices are heard and their wishes become a reality. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What are the Benefits of Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Child Inclusive Mediation provides children a safe space to express their thoughts, feelings and concerns &#8211; helping them to feel heard and validated, without fear of judgment<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>You can develop ideas and try out arrangements to see if they work for the whole family, without being constrained by court orders or statutory involvement, such as local authority or Cafcass. <\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It\\u2019s voluntary everybody agrees to try it &#8211; children are seen only with the agreement of both parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It helps you develop new methods of communication and prevents the children from becoming the messenger and being caught in the middle of conflicts<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It&#8217;s confidential<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Cost-effective and timely resolution. NFM offer Child-Inclusive Mediation for free and using mediation to agree issues relating to your separation is much faster, cheaper and less stressful for everyone involved than lengthy court battles and the associated legal expenses.  <\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How does it work ?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The mediator will talk to you about how your children can contribute, and if you both agree, they will arrange to meet with them at a convenient time for everyone and usually in a neutral space and a place where they feel safe, such as in their school. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>During the confidential meeting, the mediator will ask a series of open and age-appropriate questions to understand your children&#8217;s wishes and feelings about the things you have already agreed to be considered, examples include  : <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>How they feel about their current living situation? Is there anything they would like to change?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>How do they feel about the time they spend with each parent?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Who are the important people in their life that they feel close to?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Do they have any particular concerns?<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The success of child-inclusive mediation depends on the willingness and commitment of the parents to prioritise the best interests of their children.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">In Child Inclusive Mediation : <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Children will not be asked to make choices or decisions<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Parental authority is respected<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Children are seen only with the agreement of both parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>We discuss fully with the parents the process and purpose of a \\u201clistening meeting\\u201d before involving children.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\">You can read more about child-inclusive mediation here<\\\/a>, or <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">book an appointment with a family mediator. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37293\":\"<h2>What is compulsory mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>The Government is actively considering the implementation of compulsory mediation within the family justice system. Under these proposals, mediation will become a mandatory step in all appropriate low-level family court cases, except those involving allegations or a history of domestic violence. This new approach will require separating couples to seek resolution for child and financial arrangements through a qualified family mediator before resorting to court action as a last resort.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>By embracing compulsory mediation, it is estimated that around 19,000 separating families could find amicable resolutions outside the courtroom. Additionally, this step is expected to alleviate backlogs, ease pressures on the family courts, and allow the justice system to prioritise cases that require urgent protection and intervention.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The introduction of compulsory mediation aims to empower families to address their disputes collaboratively, enabling the family courts to focus their resources on cases involving significant concerns related to safeguarding, such as domestic abuse and child safety.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The compulsory mediation consultation is expected to conclude later this year, however until the proposal becomes law, the government has extended its Family Mediation Voucher Scheme until April 2025. The scheme provides separating couples with \\u00a3500 towards mediation to help them solve disputes through family mediation. <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\">Click here to find out more about the voucher scheme. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a29008\":\"<h2>What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/h2><p>NFM is participating in the Government\\u2019s <strong>family mediation voucher scheme<\\\/strong>. <span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">It means \\u00a3500 is being made available for separating families with children, to go towards the cost of using accredited family mediation services.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">Family separation always brings a number of expenses, and this contribution towards making vital parenting arrangements through mediation will help reduce these costs \\u2013 whilst helping families ensure the settlements that are made are in everyone\\u2019s interests.\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">The voucher scheme is open to mediation participants who attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) on or after\\u00a0<\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">26 March 2021. The \\u00a3500 voucher is <strong>not<\\\/strong> useable to pay for the MIAM itself, but for the mediation that follows.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Find out more about the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\">mediation voucher scheme here<\\\/a> or call us on <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong> <\\\/a>to find out if you are eligible for a voucher.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37465\":\"<h2>What is the mediation process?<\\\/h2>\\n<p><strong>People often ask &#8216;what is the mediation process?&#8217; Below is an outline of the typical mediation process. <\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>At the start of the mediation process, and before any joint meetings with your ex, a qualified family mediator will meet with you both individually to find out more about the issues that need to be resolved.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>This first meeting is called a <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/what-is-a-miam\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Mediation Information &amp; Assessment Meeting (MIAM), or a \\u2018first meeting\\u2019<\\\/a>.&nbsp; If you have already applied to court to try and resolve your disputes, then you may have been told you need to attend a MIAM first.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>In this initial meeting, the mediator will give you more information about mediation and will be able to answer any questions or concerns you have about what happens next and can also signpost you to other help and support services if you need them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Family Mediation<\\\/a> then typically involves attending a series of face-to-face meetings together, either online or in person. The number of meetings you need will depend on the type of, and complexity, of the issues you need to agree on.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>These discussions are facilitated by a professional, trained mediator who will help you identify the issues you need to agree and help you to find fair and workable agreements to these issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>When agreement is reached the mediator will provide a written summary known as a Memorandum of Understanding, so that both of you are clear about what has been decided. These agreements can then be made legally binding if you both agree.\\u00a0In financial cases an Open Financial Statement can be produced, which again, shows the agreement you have made between you.\\u00a0\\u00a0\\u00a0\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Using Family Mediation to agree parenting, financial or property disputes following your divorce helps to avoid costly and lengthy court battles.&nbsp; Family Mediation helps you to reach agreement and find fair and practical solutions to the issues that you need to resolve now you have separated.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>In the future, if your situation changes, and the arrangements you made are no longer working, then you can return to family mediation and agree to change the Memorandum of Understanding.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Book an appointment with a Family Mediator here.<\\\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37287\":\"<h2>Who Pays For Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>You may be considering mediation and wonder who pays for mediation?   <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The costs associated with family mediation are typically shared between the parties involved.&nbsp; Both parties contribute to the expenses associated with the mediation process, including mediator fees and any administrative costs.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>One or both parties may be eligible for <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-legally-aided-family-mediation\\\/\\\">Legal Aid<\\\/a>, which can cover the costs of mediation. If you are not eligible for Legal Aid your <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\">local NFM mediation service<\\\/a> will be able to advise you of their charges.\\u00a0 <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>NFM offers a range of flexible packages and payment terms and you can <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/costs\\\/\\\">find out more about mediation costs here.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a35672\":\"<h2>Why isn't my mediation going ahead?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>The decision to go ahead with mediation is made following the introductory MIAM meeting with both of you.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>As part of agreeing to mediate both clients AND the mediator have to agree mediation is suitable.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>As the whole mediation process is voluntary, if any one person in the mediation process does not wish to proceed, then mediation will not go ahead.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Because mediation is both confidential and privileged, which means discussions that take place with a mediator cannot be used outside of the mediation meeting whether that\\u2019s the MIAM meeting or a full mediation session, we are often unable to provide details of why mediation is not going ahead.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>This can be very frustrating for the person who wanted mediation to happen. There could be any number of reasons why it may not be going ahead, but without the full agreement of all concerned mediation cannot proceed. It may be that the timing was wrong, and when faced with the alternatives of being taken to court, mediation is worth reconsidering or it could be that one of the exemptions applies that makes it necessary to go through the court route. \\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a302\":\"<h2>What is legally aided family mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Legal Aid is provided by the government to cover the cost of family mediation services for families in dispute.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It is means-tested. So you have to provide evidence of your current financial circumstances to prove you\\u2019re entitled to receive it.&nbsp;If you are eligible, Legal Aid will cover all your individual mediation costs. It will also cover costs of the initial appointment and first mediation meeting for the other person, if they\\u2019re not eligible in their own right.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Eligibility for Legal Aid also enables you to get legal aid for legal costs, up to a cost limit.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What kind of family mediation cases can get legal aid funding?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You must be eligible based on the financial assessment and your case must be capable of giving rise to family proceedings. This doesn\\u2019t mean that going to court is imminent, just that a judgement would be possible if agreement can\\u2019t be reached by other means.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family proceedings include things like where the children will live, how they spend time with each parent or other family members. It can also include specific issues that parents may disagree about such as which school the children will go to or whether they can go abroad on holiday.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Financial matters are also included, such as child maintenance, what happens to the family home and completion of the financial disclosure required for divorce.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Who can apply for legally aided mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Many people don\\u2019t realise that legal aid is available for family mediation or assume that it is only available for people who are not working.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are on a low income, regardless of whether you are working or not, or if your financial circumstances have changed because of your separation (for instance you are paying a lot of child or spousal maintenance) then it could be worth asking for an assessment.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What evidence do I need to provide to receive legally-aided mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You will need to provide recent evidence about your household income, including your new partner\\u2019s income if you live together. A copy is kept on your mediation file and originals returned to you. Typical examples of the evidence needed include:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Universal Credit statement or other benefit letters<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Bank statements<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Payslips<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Self-employed business accounts and tax return<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You will also be asked about savings, investments and property ownership but will not generally need to provide documentary evidence unless your financial circumstances are unusual or complicated.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What is Help With Family Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Help with Family Mediation is a separate service provided by a solicitor to support the family mediation process. It is limited funding for legal advice and assistance in making mediated agreements legally binding. You will need to have attended at least one mediation session and concluded mediation within 4 months of applying for Help with Mediation. Your mediator will be able to provide you with more information.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a154\":\"<h2>What is family mediation?<\\\/h2><p>Family mediation is a conversation. It takes place between two people who have been in some form of relationship which is ending.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Family mediation helps them make decisions for the future.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Therefore family mediation focuses on issues affecting them both, for example parenting, property and money.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">Family mediation<\\\/span>&nbsp;typically involves the couple attending a series of face to face meetings. And the discussions are facilitated by a professional, trained mediator.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our family mediators know communicating after a separation is tough. So they are skilled at helping people work through issues they have to consider.&nbsp;These include practical,&nbsp;legal, financial&nbsp;and technical things.<\\\/p>\\n<p>And our mediators are skilled at helping when feelings are running high. And at time when co-operation is the last thing somebody expects from their ex.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/mediation-form\\\/\\\">Book an appointment with one of our expert mediators here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a26129\":\"<h2>What is a MIAM?<\\\/h2><p>You may be wondering what is a MIAM? If you are in dispute with your ex, or are having difficulties settling your separation, you may be thinking about court proceedings, and may have heard you need to attend a MIAM.<\\\/p>\\n<h2>What does MIAM stand for?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>MIAM stands for <strong>Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting<\\\/strong>, and is sometimes known as a MIAM meeting, or MIAM programme.<\\\/p>\\n<h2>When is a MIAM required?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Before an application can be made to court, you are required to attend a MIAM. The aim of a MIAM is to see if mediation could be used to resolve your difficulties, rather than going to court.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The MIAM is a meeting between you and a mediator to find out if there are alternative ways to find solutions to your problems.<\\\/p>\\n<p>In the MIAM the mediator will explain to you:<\\\/p>\\n<ul>\\n<li>what your options might be.<\\\/li>\\n<li>what mediation is, and how it works.<\\\/li>\\n<li>the benefits of mediation and other&nbsp;appropriate forms of resolving disputes.<\\\/li>\\n<li>the likely costs of using mediation.<\\\/li>\\n<li>if you are eligible for free mediation and&nbsp;Legal Aid.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n<p>The MIAM can be between the mediator and just you, or with your ex-partner too.<\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/what-is-a-miam\\\/\\\">To read more about a MIAM programme click here&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>If you are ready to book a MIAM, please <a href=\\\"\\\/mediation-form\\\">click here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a25399\":\"<h2>How much does family mediation cost?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Family mediation costs do vary, according to the number of appointments you need and depends on the range of issues you are looking to resolve.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>For example, if you are looking to mediate agreements over money, parenting and property, you are likely to need more sessions than if your case relates only to money, which will affect mediation costs.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Generally, you can expect to pay in the region of \\u00a3600- \\u00a31,000 per person in mediation fees. However, as above this will vary. Nonetheless, most people find using family mediation to settle post-separation issues is much cheaper and quicker than heading straight to a solicitor and taking issues through the courts.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You could also be eligible for the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><strong>government&#8217;s \\u00a3500 voucher scheme<\\\/strong><\\\/a> and Legal Aid is available for family mediation \\u2013\\u00a0<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/legal-aid-for-mediation\\\/\\\"><strong>click here for more information about Legal Aid for mediation<\\\/strong>.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The initial MIAM costs in the region of \\u00a395-\\u00a3120 per person depending on the mediation service you use, and if the cost of the MIAM certificate, which is required before you can submit an application to court, is included in the fee, or if this is a separate charge. You should check the cost with your mediation service provider before you start.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are eligible for Legal Aid then this will cover all your individual mediation costs, including your MIAM and your ex-partner\\u2019s MIAM if they do not qualify in their own right.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">If you&#8217;re a charity, why is there a fee?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>NFM is the leading non-profit provider of family mediation but we do not receive any government funding for our mediation work. Our fees reflect the time and expertise of our experienced professional mediators.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Official figures have shown that making settlements using family mediation is up to five times less expensive than doing so by going through the family court, as well as being faster and less stressful for all involved.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How many family mediation sessions will I need?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>There is no strict rule about how many family mediation sessions are needed before a settlement is reached. That&#8217;s because each case is very different. The length of the process also depends on the nature of the issues being mediated. As an example, an \\u2018All Issues Mediation\\u2019 case is one involving sorting out property, finance and parenting arrangements. And this will tend to be more complex than one in which only the finances or parenting need to be mediated.&nbsp; Typically, however, couples will find they attend between three and five sessions before the process concludes.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a297\":\"<h2>If I want to go ahead with family mediation, what do I do next?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>To begin family mediation, the first step is to attend a <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/miam\\\/miam-introduction\\\/\\\">Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>This gives you an opportunity to find out what family mediation is about. And it helps you find out if it is suitable for you and your circumstances.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It also lets you consider the issues you will need discuss to achieve divorce or separation before you take part in family mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">Book an appointment<\\\/a> If you and the mediator decide to continue with mediation, you will both organise a further meeting. The mediator will make sure you know what you need to do to achieve a legal separation. The mediator will also help you to gather the information, facilitate the discussions and help you develop options and solutions. Mediators cannot give advice or act as a lawyer for either party. Mediation is both confidential and \\u201cprivileged\\u201d.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>This means you are free to exchange information and ideas without the constraints of fearing these ideas may be used against you at a later date. Because both people are working with the same base of information, it takes far less time to negotiate a resolution that makes sense to you both of them.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a264\":\"<h2>What happens if my ex won\\u2019t go to mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>What happens if my ex won&#8217;t go to mediation? You can contact us to discuss things if this is your situation, but the following information may help in the first instance.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are considering mediation because of its many benefits, but then think &#8220;What happens if my ex won&#8217;t go to mediation?&#8221;, this can be a challenge. You may think or know that your ex doesn&#8217;t want to try mediation to reach a settlement when you&#8217;re separating. It&#8217;s difficult in the heat of a conflict to think about trying to negotiate together to get things sorted. It can seem easier to try to trigger a legal battle that is ultimately going to be far more expensive, more stressful and take much, much longer. But mediation can only work when both people agree to attend. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If your ex-partner won&#8217;t initially agree to mediate you can try asking them to attend an appointment on their own to start with. This can help avoid the tensions of facing each other. Your ex can then find out how it all works and make an informed decision about if it is right for them because they&#8217;ll have more information. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Most people are naturally quite anxious before they start mediation, but the huge majority of those who do go ahead and try it are greatly relieved that they did. They are often also surprised at the way they were able to finally make agreements and decisions on things that had previously felt it would be impossible to sort. Thankfully in these situations, the question &#8220;What happens if my ex won&#8217;t go to mediation?&#8221; disappears. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong><a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\">Contact us today<\\\/a><\\\/strong> if you still require further assistance,<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a285\":\"<h2>Instead of family mediation, is it simpler to go straight to a solicitor?<\\\/h2>\\n<ul><li>Family mediation is much\\u202f<strong>quicker and less stressful<\\\/strong>\\u202f\\u202fthan heading straight to court.<\\\/li><li>It is usually <strong>cheaper<\\\/strong> too.<\\\/li><li>It enables you to\\u202f<strong>shape long-term solutions<\\\/strong>\\u202fthat are in your family\\u2019s best interests.<\\\/li><li>Family mediation allows families to\\u202f<strong>keep control<\\\/strong>\\u202fof their own destinies. It helps shape settlements over parenting, money and property,&nbsp;<strong>instead of handing&nbsp;control over to the courts.<\\\/strong><\\\/li><\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Does family mediation remove the need for court or solicitor involvement? <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation does not totally remove the need for solicitors.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The process can work well in various circumstances. And this includes where each person wants to use a solicitor to give relevant advice between mediation sessions. When agreement is reached in family mediation a solicitor can look at what you&#8217;ve agreed. Then they can put this into a binding legal document called a Consent Order.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The Consent Order will then need to be ratified by a family court. If you do not use a solicitor the Court will help finalise your agreements in a Consent Order.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Should I choose a family mediator with a legal background?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The background of the family mediator is not relevant. It&#8217;s because all our mediators are skilled and knowledgeable in helping you identify the information you need to make decisions. They do not give advice. That&#8217;s because that would affect their impartiality and could be very uncomfortable for participants.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You are encouraged to seek your own separate advice to ensure you make fully-informed decisions.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Is NFM linked to the Courts?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>No. As a registered charity NFM is completely independent of the family courts.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">When might I need court forms?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If either person decides against mediation, or if mediation breaks down, you or your ex may want to make an application to court. Unless there is a valid exemption to mediation, it is a legal requirement that an accredited family mediator signs the appropriate court form\\\/s as evidence that you have considered mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Is NFM a government department?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Not at all. NFM is a registered charity that exists to help families make settlements over things they need to settle after separation.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a283\":\"<h2>Is family mediation compulsory?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>You may have heard about the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting &#8211; the MIAM. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Before applying to court for a decision on finances or parenting, it is compulsory for most people to attend a MIAM with an accredited mediator.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It is expected that most&nbsp;people experiencing divorce or separation will&nbsp;take responsibility&nbsp;for their post-separation&nbsp;life. After all, the families are the experts in their own lives. So the family court expects to be the last resort after all other attempts to settle&nbsp;have failed.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The MIAM\\u00a0gives you an opportunity to find out what mediation is about. You can find out if it is suitable for you and your circumstances. In the MIAM you will look at the issues you\\u00a0have to\\u00a0consider\\u00a0to achieve\\u00a0divorce or separation. And you will be able to assess the situation before taking part in mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If after attending your MIAM meeting you want to go on to try mediation and you both agree this is the right course of action then undertaking mediation is voluntary. Both you and your ex and the mediator will agree to the mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Our mediators will help you use the mediation meeting in the most comfortable way for you and your circumstances. This might be in person together in the same room, online or in separate rooms. You can discuss how you would like to proceed with the mediator.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It is unlikely that you will not reach an agreement in mediation as most people do, but if you are one of the small number unable to resolve your conflicts, then the mediator can issue you with the obligatory signed form for you to continue to make an application to court.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>There is nothing to stop you from making an application to court and still continuing with mediation. In the end, the courts would rather you made your own arrangements than for orders to be made that seldom suit the needs of your family.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a272\":\"<h2>How quickly can I see a family mediator?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Once you have decided to go ahead with family mediation, contact us.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Then we will quickly begin arranging an appointment for you with one of our expert family mediators.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Do you offer family mediation by video conference? <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Yes. We offer MIAMs and family mediation by video conference.\\u00a0 You can mediate without leaving home to visit one of our family mediation centres, and you can <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">book an appointment here.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a243\":\"<h2>What is the role of the family mediator?<\\\/h2><p><strong><em>Family mediators do not express a point of view or make a value judgement. The mediator is neutral during the process. Their expertise and experience allow them to give information and understanding of legal and financial issues. They will guide you to the best legal solution in your case.\\u00a0 <\\\/em><\\\/strong>The family mediator will make you aware of things you each need to do to achieve a legal separation. The mediator helps you to gather the information. They facilitate the discussions, and help you develop options and solutions.\\u00a0<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>You can think of the mediator as the chair of the meeting. They help guide people through their agenda, ensuring each can express their thoughts and suggestions without interruption.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The mediator is there to help the discussion. They ensure each person has time and space to put their views across. And they keep the\\u00a0discussions\\u00a0productive and safe.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our family mediators draw on their experience of\\u00a0what other people have done in similar circumstances. They help you look at the pros and cons of any particular course of action.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">Decisions made will be noted by the mediator. Then each of you will receive a written summary of these. And this will come with any proposals that have yet to be agreed, and any actions that need to follow.\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>It means you don\\u2019t need to take notes. Instead you can concentrate on the discussion and create your own solutions for your separated futures.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a252\":\"<h2>What makes NFM\\u2019s style of mediation different? What will the mediator do?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>NFM\\u2019s style of mediation gives you time to express yourself. We understand this is a difficult time. Our mediators will not rush you to solutions, or push you to make a hasty agreement. They focus on ensuring the outcome is truly what both people believe is best in the circumstances.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Because of our experience and expertise in providing mediation, you will be surprised at the level of agreement you can achieve. Only in exceptional cases is no agreement reached.<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>Our fully qualified mediators are trained in all aspects of family law, and we are the leading training provider for family mediators.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>We help families resolve all the practical, legal, emotional and financial issues that arise from separation, helping families make long-lasting arrangements that benefit everyone in the family, especially their children.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">Our&nbsp;<\\\/span>mediators are trained to include children in mediation, where it is appropriate to do so. They also have considerable financial know-how to help you resolve money issues.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>NFM is the largest provider of family mediation in England and Wales. We have 40 years\\u2019 experience in delivering expert professional family mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><span class=\\\"TextRun Highlight SCXW145239676\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW145239676\\\">Our expert family mediators use a range of skills to help you plan for the future:<\\\/span><\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul><li>Helping you identify the things you need to discuss<\\\/li><li>Managing the agenda in a timely way<\\\/li><li>Using questions to help people identify priorities and needs<\\\/li><li>Listening to ensure your points are really heard and understood<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/li><li>Summarising understanding<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/li><li>Not taking sides, and encouraging self-determination<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/li><li>Ensuring access to necessary information<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/li><li>Helping people spell out arrangements to check they will work<\\\/li><li>Ensuring neither person dominates discussions, or makes insulting or demeaning comments<\\\/li><li>These skills are designed to help you decide for yourself what is best in all circumstances.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/li><\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"has-text-align-center has-accent-3-background-color has-background wp-block-heading\\\"><strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\">NFM is local to you: our network works in over<br>500 locations across England and Wales.&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/h2>\\n\"},\"t132\":{\"a34382\":\"<h2>Money Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>When you decide to separate or divorce, some of the big challenges you face revolve around money.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Many separating couples find it difficult to know where to start when it comes to supporting themselves and their children financially, having previously managed money on a joint basis.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation can help you make agreements over money, helping you move on to the next stage of your life.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>And if you are on a low income then you may qualify for <strong>legal aid to cover your mediation costs<\\\/strong>.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It\\u2019s fair to say that when a relationship breaks down the initial reaction is emotional, whether you are happy the relationship is over or devastated it has happened. But in the immediate aftermath, the underlying question for almost anyone who is separating is \\u201cwill I have enough to live on\\u201d.  <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/the-financial-impact-of-divorce-or-separation\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Here we have pulled together some information and advice on the financial impact of divorce or separation that may help.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Below is a short video where you can see how family mediation helped Martin and Steven come to an amicable arrangement over property and pensions when their civil partnership broke down. And from Brenda and her husband who divorced using mediation, and still live in the same house.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n<div class=\\\"video-holder  has-ratio-\\\"><iframe loading=\\\"lazy\\\" src=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/player.vimeo.com\\\/video\\\/62095108?autopause=1&autoplay=0&background=0&byline=1&color=00adef&controls=1&loop=0&muted=0&portrait=1&quality=auto&speed=0&title=1&transparent=1\\\" width=\\\"640\\\" height=\\\"360\\\" frameborder=\\\"0\\\" allowfullscreen><\\\/iframe><\\\/div>\\n\",\"a37286\":\"<h2>Is family mediation means tested?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Legal Aid is available to cover the costs of family mediation services for families in dispute. \\u00a0Legal Aid is means-tested, so you have to provide evidence of your current financial circumstances to prove you\\u2019re entitled to receive it.\\u00a0 If you are eligible, then Legal Aid will cover your individual mediation costs and also covers the cost of the initial appointment and first mediation meeting for the other person, if they are not eligible in their own right.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-legally-aided-family-mediation\\\/\\\">You can read more about Legal Aid here.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a29008\":\"<h2>What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/h2><p>NFM is participating in the Government\\u2019s <strong>family mediation voucher scheme<\\\/strong>. <span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">It means \\u00a3500 is being made available for separating families with children, to go towards the cost of using accredited family mediation services.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">Family separation always brings a number of expenses, and this contribution towards making vital parenting arrangements through mediation will help reduce these costs \\u2013 whilst helping families ensure the settlements that are made are in everyone\\u2019s interests.\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">The voucher scheme is open to mediation participants who attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) on or after\\u00a0<\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">26 March 2021. The \\u00a3500 voucher is <strong>not<\\\/strong> useable to pay for the MIAM itself, but for the mediation that follows.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Find out more about the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\">mediation voucher scheme here<\\\/a> or call us on <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong> <\\\/a>to find out if you are eligible for a voucher.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37287\":\"<h2>Who Pays For Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>You may be considering mediation and wonder who pays for mediation?   <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The costs associated with family mediation are typically shared between the parties involved.&nbsp; Both parties contribute to the expenses associated with the mediation process, including mediator fees and any administrative costs.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>One or both parties may be eligible for <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/mediation-faq\\\/mediation\\\/what-is-legally-aided-family-mediation\\\/\\\">Legal Aid<\\\/a>, which can cover the costs of mediation. If you are not eligible for Legal Aid your <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\">local NFM mediation service<\\\/a> will be able to advise you of their charges.\\u00a0 <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>NFM offers a range of flexible packages and payment terms and you can <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/costs\\\/\\\">find out more about mediation costs here.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a302\":\"<h2>What is legally aided family mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Legal Aid is provided by the government to cover the cost of family mediation services for families in dispute.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It is means-tested. So you have to provide evidence of your current financial circumstances to prove you\\u2019re entitled to receive it.&nbsp;If you are eligible, Legal Aid will cover all your individual mediation costs. It will also cover costs of the initial appointment and first mediation meeting for the other person, if they\\u2019re not eligible in their own right.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Eligibility for Legal Aid also enables you to get legal aid for legal costs, up to a cost limit.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What kind of family mediation cases can get legal aid funding?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You must be eligible based on the financial assessment and your case must be capable of giving rise to family proceedings. This doesn\\u2019t mean that going to court is imminent, just that a judgement would be possible if agreement can\\u2019t be reached by other means.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family proceedings include things like where the children will live, how they spend time with each parent or other family members. It can also include specific issues that parents may disagree about such as which school the children will go to or whether they can go abroad on holiday.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Financial matters are also included, such as child maintenance, what happens to the family home and completion of the financial disclosure required for divorce.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Who can apply for legally aided mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Many people don\\u2019t realise that legal aid is available for family mediation or assume that it is only available for people who are not working.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are on a low income, regardless of whether you are working or not, or if your financial circumstances have changed because of your separation (for instance you are paying a lot of child or spousal maintenance) then it could be worth asking for an assessment.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What evidence do I need to provide to receive legally-aided mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You will need to provide recent evidence about your household income, including your new partner\\u2019s income if you live together. A copy is kept on your mediation file and originals returned to you. Typical examples of the evidence needed include:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Universal Credit statement or other benefit letters<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Bank statements<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Payslips<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Self-employed business accounts and tax return<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You will also be asked about savings, investments and property ownership but will not generally need to provide documentary evidence unless your financial circumstances are unusual or complicated.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What is Help With Family Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Help with Family Mediation is a separate service provided by a solicitor to support the family mediation process. It is limited funding for legal advice and assistance in making mediated agreements legally binding. You will need to have attended at least one mediation session and concluded mediation within 4 months of applying for Help with Mediation. Your mediator will be able to provide you with more information.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a11850\":\"<h2>Where do we start with finances now we are separating?<\\\/h2><p>The underlying question for nearly everyone who is separating is \\u2018will I have enough to live on?\\u2019 Some people will have been managing the family budget and others will have had nothing to do with it. Some people are comfortable and confident thinking and talking about money, others are less so. There is undoubtedly a lot to think about both at the time of separation and as you plan your future lives apart.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Let\\u2019s look at the starting points\\u2026 The law and the courts take the view that where there is a legal relationship (marriage or civil partnership) then the starting point for financial discussions is fairness and equal division. This is often not the end point, as there are a range of things to be taken into consideration such as:<\\\/p>\\n<ul>\\n<li>ongoing needs of any children<\\\/li>\\n<li>each person\\u2019s earning and mortgage capacity<\\\/li>\\n<li>ability to accumulate a pension, and<\\\/li>\\n<li>where there are enough resources, any significant contributions of each partner in the relationship.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n<p>The starting point is that the needs of the children now are met and then, on the basis that children do better when their parents are happy, that the needs of the parents are met. Sometimes there are not enough resources to arrange things fairly at the time of separation, and parents will make agreements to meet the children\\u2019s needs now \\u2026 and their own at some time in the future when the children are more independent.<\\\/p>\\n<h4><strong><em>Separating after living together<\\\/em><\\\/strong><\\\/h4>\\n<p>There are differences when people have been living together without being married or in a civil partnership. Many in this situation think they acquire \\u2018common law\\u2019 rights as if they were. This is not the case and people who are living together have hardly any rights at all. Where parents are separating after living together and the children are still dependent there are more options, but these generally only apply until the children reach independence.<\\\/p>\\n<p>To find out more about separating after living together you can visit the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.advicenow.org.uk\\\/guides\\\/survival-guide-living-together-and-breaking\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Advicenow website<\\\/a>. \\u00a0<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.moneyhelper.org.uk\\\/en\\\/family-and-care\\\/divorce-and-separation\\\/how-to-sort-out-your-finances-on-separation\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Money Helper<\\\/a> also gives a useful overview of the key financial considerations when considering separation, to help people feel more in control of their situation.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a23272\":\"<h2>What am I entitled to if I divorce or separate from my partner?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Everybody\\u2019s situation is different, so there is no simple answer to this question as there are many factors to take into consideration.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you separate from your partner you will need to consider a range of issues. Sometimes the list of things feels daunting. For example :<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>your living arrangements from now on, and those of your partner<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>what you will do about parenting arrangements: for example, where your child will live, and how and when they will see your ex<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>how to divide your money. Consideration about savings, pensions, debts, maintenance payments and other similar issues will be important to get right as you look to plan your life after separation.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Our expert family mediators can help you settle on issues relating to money, property and parenting and <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">you can book an appointment here.&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a27673\":\"<h2>What happens to pensions when you divorce?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>When you face the end of your marriage or civil partnership, it is important to discuss how your pensions will be shared. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A pension can be a valuable asset (sometimes the most valuable asset) which has been built up during your time together.&nbsp;Depending upon the length of your marriage and your ages, you will need to consider your income in retirement.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Even though you may be some years away from an age where you can access pension funds, these count as assets, just like money you might have in a bank or savings account.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It sometimes feels tricky to get the correct up-to-date information about the value of your pension, but unless you do, you won\\u2019t be able to provide the correct financial information that you need.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You will hear the term Cash Equivalent (CE) of your pension. This is the figure that your pension provider will produce when looking at the value of the fund. It is the amount that the pension provider would need to produce if the fund was being transferred from one fund to another. Some pension schemes provide the CE figure when producing their annual statements.&nbsp; It may be necessary to contact your pension provider for the figure.&nbsp; Unless the pension is in payment, the provider has to produce one CE calculation per year free of charge.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The <em>Advicenow<\\\/em> website provides a useful free \\u2018survival guide to pensions\\u2019 on divorce\\u00a0<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.advicenow.org.uk\\\/pensions\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\"><strong>which you can download<\\\/strong> <strong>here<\\\/strong>.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/what-happens-to-pensions-when-you-divorce\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">You can read more about pensions and divorce or separation here.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The end of a relationship can be a stressful and emotionally challenging time, and pensions may be the last thing on your mind. Gerontology expert and Professor of Sociology at The University of Manchester, Debora Price, together with Dr Hayley James of UCD, has created an informative video, giving free and factual information on how to reach a fair financial settlement &#8211; <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=VUh0Zuh1xbI\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">which can be viewed here.&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a11852\":\"<h2>How do I support my child financially after separation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>When parents separate they both remain responsible for the care and financial support of their children. Most parents think it is important for the children\\u2019s lives to be affected as little as possible by the separation and for them to have a similar standard of living when they are spending time with each parent. The law takes this view too.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Sometimes this means that one parent gives the other a regular amount of money, known as child support or &#8216;paying maintenance&#8217;, to contribute towards for example maintaining a home with heat and light, providing food, school uniform and other clothes, paying for school materials and out of school activities, and generally ensuring that their health and welfare needs are met.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How do we negotiate financial support for our child after we separate or divorce?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Because every family has different needs the government thinks it is important that parents negotiate their own arrangements for child support, and provide support to help do this.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can find out more about\\u00a0family-based arrangements and making arrangements yourself on the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/making-child-maintenance-arrangement\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">gov.uk website here<\\\/a>.\\u00a0 It has resources to help you, including a <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/calculate-child-maintenance\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">child maintenance calculator<\\\/a> to help you think about calculating how much to pay and, if you absolutely can\\u2019t agree between yourselves, find out more about statutory arrangements for paying maintenance.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The statutory <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/childmaintenanceservice.direct.gov.uk\\\/onlinerevive\\\/public\\\/landing-screen\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Child Maintenance Service (CMS)<\\\/a> applies charges to both the giving parent and the receiving parent for this service. For up to date charging information use the links above.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What happens to Child Benefit payments when we separate?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Child Benefit is a payment you can claim for a child you are responsible for. Only one payment is allowed per child. Different rates are payable for the first child and subsequent children. The payment can be claimed by anyone who qualifies, whatever their income or savings.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>When parents separate if one is going to have more responsibility for the care of the children they will usually keep the Child Benefit. In some cases, children will live with different parents and then you can each claim for the child you are responsible for.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Sometimes parents share care, and in those situations, you can decide between you who will be the nominated parent for Child Benefit. This will generally tend to be the parent on the lower income. You will need to let the Benefits Office know that your circumstances have changed. <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/child-benefit\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Click here to visit the gov.uk website for more about Child Benefit.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Find out more about&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/child-benefit\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">child benefit and whether you qualify<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a25472\":\"<h2>How much child maintenance should I pay?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>This depends on a range of factors, including the income of both parents, and any assets or debts they have.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The gov.uk website provides a <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/calculate-child-maintenance\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener noreferrer\\\">child maintenance calculator<\\\/a> so you can work out how much child maintenance your child will need<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How can family mediation help decide child maintenance payments?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can make arrangements for child maintenance payments as part of your mediation session. Experience shows that agreements reached in mediation are more likely to work, as the decisions have been reached by agreement.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>By using mediation to settle child maintenance you can avoid the costs and losses of using the statutory service and your agreement should be accepted as a voluntary arrangement.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/how-to-arrange-child-maintenance\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Read The Money Advice Service&#8217;s guide &#8216;How to arrange child maintenance&#8217;<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10214\":\"<h2>How does our financial agreement fit in with the divorce process?<\\\/h2><p>Financial matters tie in with the divorce. If you want your proposals to be incorporated in a consent order for the court, the divorce must have reached the conditional order stage.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The court only has jurisdiction to make financial orders on or after the conditional order stage and they are usually brought into effect on final order. With a pension sharing order it is necessary for there to be a final order.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a25399\":\"<h2>How much does family mediation cost?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Family mediation costs do vary, according to the number of appointments you need and depends on the range of issues you are looking to resolve.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>For example, if you are looking to mediate agreements over money, parenting and property, you are likely to need more sessions than if your case relates only to money, which will affect mediation costs.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Generally, you can expect to pay in the region of \\u00a3600- \\u00a31,000 per person in mediation fees. However, as above this will vary. Nonetheless, most people find using family mediation to settle post-separation issues is much cheaper and quicker than heading straight to a solicitor and taking issues through the courts.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You could also be eligible for the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\"><strong>government&#8217;s \\u00a3500 voucher scheme<\\\/strong><\\\/a> and Legal Aid is available for family mediation \\u2013\\u00a0<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/legal-aid-for-mediation\\\/\\\"><strong>click here for more information about Legal Aid for mediation<\\\/strong>.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The initial MIAM costs in the region of \\u00a395-\\u00a3120 per person depending on the mediation service you use, and if the cost of the MIAM certificate, which is required before you can submit an application to court, is included in the fee, or if this is a separate charge. You should check the cost with your mediation service provider before you start.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are eligible for Legal Aid then this will cover all your individual mediation costs, including your MIAM and your ex-partner\\u2019s MIAM if they do not qualify in their own right.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">If you&#8217;re a charity, why is there a fee?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>NFM is the leading non-profit provider of family mediation but we do not receive any government funding for our mediation work. Our fees reflect the time and expertise of our experienced professional mediators.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Official figures have shown that making settlements using family mediation is up to five times less expensive than doing so by going through the family court, as well as being faster and less stressful for all involved.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How many family mediation sessions will I need?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>There is no strict rule about how many family mediation sessions are needed before a settlement is reached. That&#8217;s because each case is very different. The length of the process also depends on the nature of the issues being mediated. As an example, an \\u2018All Issues Mediation\\u2019 case is one involving sorting out property, finance and parenting arrangements. And this will tend to be more complex than one in which only the finances or parenting need to be mediated.&nbsp; Typically, however, couples will find they attend between three and five sessions before the process concludes.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a10262\":\"<h2>What happens to the home in divorce or separation? What right do I have to stay there?<\\\/h2><p>There are no set rules when it comes to decisions about homes and ownership.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You can make whatever arrangement you like with your partner, but it&#8217;s wise to bear in mind the legal position and what a court might decide. And the situation varies depending on whether you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting<\\\/p>\\n<p>There are very few circumstances where your partner can make you leave your home and both partners have the right to remain in the family home, but courts will give priority to making sure children have a secure home.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you have day-to-day care of the children, the courts can, for example, order the transfer of a joint lease to your sole name if you rent, or, if you&#8217;re a homeowner, state that you can stay in your present home until the kids reach the age of 18<\\\/p>\\n<p>Although your home will probably be the biggest financial concern, decisions about housing will be made in the context of the whole divorce settlement. So, for example, child maintenance payments may include mortgage payments.<\\\/p>\\n<p><strong>Will I need to go to court to stay in my house?<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>In some circumstances you may need to go to court to protect your rights if you fear losing your home now that you have separated and if you can&#8217;t reach an agreement with your ex about housing.<\\\/p>\\n<p>There is no set way of dividing your assets now that you have separated and your housing is likely to be one of the largest assets so it is important that you look at the whole picture before deciding on a single decision about housing. The best way to look at your situation in its entirety is to go to mediation. The mediator will help you draw together all the information you both need to make an informed decision about what to do with your possessions, assets and liabilities and how to divide them. Family mediators will be able to help you reach agreement that will ensure that any agreement you reach is equitable and fair; satisfy the legal requirements for divorce or separation; provide for your individual needs now you are separated; and above all ensure that the children\\u2019s needs can be met.<\\\/p>\\n<p>It can be daunting and feel counter intuitive to think sitting in a room with your ex sorting out your once shared life will be possible, but mediation works. The mediators are highly trained and skilled at helping you navigate through the decisions you will need to make even if you are no longer on the best of terms<br \\\/>\\nThe benefits of mediation are that you will be able to discuss everything that is of concern to you from the smallest detail such as who gets the silver teaspoons to the biggest things like the house, pension, boat, bike, car etc. It means you will be able to tailor your agreements and decisions to meet your unique needs and those of your family whereas going to court often results in decisions being made that don\\u2019t really suit anyone\\u2019s needs.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Remember also that legal aid is still available for family mediation. You will have to find a mediator who has a legal aid contact and be means tested for eligibility. If you are eligible then mediation is free of charge.<\\\/p>\\n<p>In the unlikely event mediation does not help you come to an agreement, you may need to go to court. The court might order that:<\\\/p>\\n<ul>\\n<li>Ownership stays the same, but one of you is given the right to stay in the property until a fixed point (for example, when your youngest child reaches 18)<\\\/li>\\n<li>Ownership of the home is transferred to one of you, with perhaps a lesser share of other possessions<\\\/li>\\n<li>The home is transferred to one of you but with a charge secured on the property, so that the other party receives a set percentage when the home is sold<\\\/li>\\n<li>The home is sold and the proceeds split between you, in whatever proportions seem fair, for you both to start afresh<\\\/li>\\n<li>Ownership is transferred to your child.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n<p><strong>Selling the family home is often seen as the easiest option if you&#8217;re splitting up.<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n<p>But there can be problems: for example, you might have trouble finding a buyer, or be caught in negative equity (when the value of your home is less than the amount you owe on the mortgage). This could make it impossible to sell and split the proceeds.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You might also struggle to get a mortgage on a new property, especially if you have only a small deposit or if your income is low.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You may need to consider other options, such as one of you staying in the property while the other rents, or living together in the family home in the short-term.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Before you make a decision:<\\\/p>\\n<ul>\\n<li>Budget carefully before committing to a housing arrangement. No matter how tempting it may be to stay in your family home, make sure you can afford to continue living there<\\\/li>\\n<li>Check out mortgage options, what&#8217;s available and what you can afford. Some building society and banks offer Fresh Start mortgages for people starting anew<\\\/li>\\n<li>Find out if you&#8217;re eligible for state benefits to help with your housing costs<\\\/li>\\n<li>Accept that your lifestyle will change, at least for now, and be prepared to compromise.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\"},\"t131\":{\"a34381\":\"<h2>MIAM Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>If you are in dispute with your ex, or are having difficulties settling your separation, you may be thinking about court proceedings, and may have heard you need to attend a MIAM.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Before an application can be made to court, you are required to attend a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting, or MIAM. The aim of the MIAM is to see if mediation could be used to resolve your difficulties, rather than going straight to court.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The MIAM is a meeting between you and a mediator to find out if there are alternative ways to find solutions to your problems.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>In the MIAM, the mediator will explain to you:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>what your options might be<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>what mediation is, and how it works<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>the benefits of mediation and other appropriate forms of resolving disputes<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>the likely costs of using mediation<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>if you are eligible for free mediation and Legal Aid.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The MIAM, which usually lasts around 45 minutes, can be between the mediator and just you, or with your ex-partner too.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>After the MIAM, the mediator will be able to tell you if your case is suitable for mediation. If it is, they will advise you of the next steps.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a26182\":\"<h2>Can I do a MIAM virtually?<\\\/h2><p>Yes. We offer the MIAM by video conference to make life easier. You can do your MIAM without leaving home and can book an appointment <a href=\\\"\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">using this link<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a35671\":\"<h2>Do I have to attend a MIAM?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Before making an application to court the law states that you should first have a meeting with a mediator to consider if mediation is suitable for your case and circumstances.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>There are circumstances when you would be exempt from attending the MIAM meeting and for some of these exemptions the court requires supporting evidence.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Below are some of the circumstances that the court consider exempt from attending a MIAM meeting :<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Allegations of domestic Abuse <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you will need to provide evidence of the relevant arrest of the other party or criminal conviction or police caution.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It is not necessarily the case that mediation would not be suitable even if there is evidence of domestic abuse. You can attend a meeting with a mediator on your own to find out if mediation would work in your case and decide once you have had your meeting if you think you want to proceed.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If there are injunctions in place you will need to discuss this with the mediator as it may be a breach of that injunction for you to meet in mediation without permission from the court for you both to attend.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you have any safety concerns you can discuss these with the mediator and if you agree mediation could proceed we will work with you to ensure your safety. You can read more about mediation and domestic abuse here in our <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/nfm-domestic-violence-FINAL-nobleed-2019-12-10.pdf\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">leaflet<\\\/a>.<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Even if mediation does not go ahead, attending the meeting with the mediator is likely to give you a better understanding of your options as you proceed through the separation process. The mediator will also provide you with information about other services you might need that include support for you and your children or guidance on how to deal with your finances now you are separated.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Child Protection <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If children are known to the social services department there may be risks associated with making agreements in mediation. It is not an automatic bar to attending mediation but the mediator will have to work with the full cooperation of the parents and the local authority.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Bankruptcy <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you need to sort out your finances and need to go to court, you do not have to attend a MIAM meeting with a mediator if you or your ex-partner is affected by bankruptcy. There are other exemptions that may apply to you, see <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/government\\\/publications\\\/form-c100-application-under-the-children-act-1989-for-a-child-arrangements-prohibited-steps-specific-issue-section-8-order-or-to-vary-or-discharge\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">C100 <\\\/a>or <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/government\\\/publications\\\/give-information-for-a-family-mediation-assessment-form-fm1\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">form FM1<\\\/a> for a full list. The court may require supporting evidence for some exemptions. If the court is not satisfied that the exemption criteria has been met your case may be adjourned for you to attend a MIAM<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a35139\":\"<h2>How much does a MIAM cost?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>A MIAM costs in the region of \\u00a395-\\u00a3120 per person depending on the mediation service you use, and if the cost of the MIAM certificate, which is required before you can submit an application to court, is included in the fee, or if this is a separate charge. You should check the cost with your mediation service provider before you start.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are eligible for Legal Aid then this will cover all your individual mediation costs, including your MIAM and your ex-partner\\u2019s MIAM if they do not qualify in their own right.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you are not eligible for Legal Aid your<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">&nbsp;local NFM mediation service&nbsp;<\\\/a>will be able to advise you of their charges. We provide a range of flexible packages and payment terms and you can&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/costs\\\/\\\">find out more about mediation costs here<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37272\":\"<h2>When do I need a MIAM?<\\\/h2>\\n<p><strong>When do I need a MIAM? <\\\/strong> If you are looking to go to apply to court to settle your divorce or separation issues, it is a legal requirement&nbsp;to first attend a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting, or MIAM. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The aim of the MIAM is to see if mediation could be used to resolve your issues rather than going straight to court.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The MIAM is a meeting between you and a mediator to understand if there is an alternative way to find a solution to your problems.  The other person involved is expected to also attend a MIAM meeting but this doesn&#8217;t have to be with you. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>In the MIAM, the mediator will explain to you:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>what your options might be<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>what mediation is, and how it works<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>the benefits of mediation and other appropriate forms of resolving disputes<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>the likely costs of using mediation<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>if you are eligible for free mediation and Legal Aid.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The MIAM, which usually lasts around 45 minutes, can be between the mediator and just you, or with your ex-partner too.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>After the MIAM, the mediator will be able to tell you if your case is suitable for mediation. If it is, they will advise you of the next steps. If you decide not to proceed with mediation or it is not suitable for your case, then the mediator will sign the relevant court forms needed for you to issue your application at court. <\\\/p>\\n\",\"a26129\":\"<h2>What is a MIAM?<\\\/h2><p>You may be wondering what is a MIAM? If you are in dispute with your ex, or are having difficulties settling your separation, you may be thinking about court proceedings, and may have heard you need to attend a MIAM.<\\\/p>\\n<h2>What does MIAM stand for?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>MIAM stands for <strong>Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting<\\\/strong>, and is sometimes known as a MIAM meeting, or MIAM programme.<\\\/p>\\n<h2>When is a MIAM required?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Before an application can be made to court, you are required to attend a MIAM. The aim of a MIAM is to see if mediation could be used to resolve your difficulties, rather than going to court.<\\\/p>\\n<p>The MIAM is a meeting between you and a mediator to find out if there are alternative ways to find solutions to your problems.<\\\/p>\\n<p>In the MIAM the mediator will explain to you:<\\\/p>\\n<ul>\\n<li>what your options might be.<\\\/li>\\n<li>what mediation is, and how it works.<\\\/li>\\n<li>the benefits of mediation and other&nbsp;appropriate forms of resolving disputes.<\\\/li>\\n<li>the likely costs of using mediation.<\\\/li>\\n<li>if you are eligible for free mediation and&nbsp;Legal Aid.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n<p>The MIAM can be between the mediator and just you, or with your ex-partner too.<\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/what-is-a-miam\\\/\\\">To read more about a MIAM programme click here&nbsp;<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>If you are ready to book a MIAM, please <a href=\\\"\\\/mediation-form\\\">click here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a281\":\"<h2>What if my ex lives in a different part of the country?<\\\/h2><p><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">NFM <\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">runs a network of local\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">family\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">mediators\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">working in hundreds of locations right across England and Wales<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">.<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">The two people involved do not have to attend the same MIAM. Instead they can attend this meeting in their own locality and you are also able to do attend via video conference.<\\\/span><\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">If <\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">mediation goes ahead our<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">\\u00a0national network will help you agree a<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">location for future sessions<\\\/span><\\\/span><span class=\\\"TextRun SCXW186450407\\\" lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\" xml:lang=\\\"EN-GB\\\"><span class=\\\"NormalTextRun SCXW186450407\\\">.<\\\/span><\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n\"},\"t133\":{\"a34383\":\"<h2>Parents & Parenting Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>As a parent, if you face divorce or separation, the impact on your child is one of your main concerns because you know that your child, as well as you, feels the stress and confusion of the changes you are all going through.&nbsp;It can be particularly hard to talk to your ex about any concerns you might have about your children at this time.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation will help you communicate with your ex and help you both make a plan for supporting your children through your family transition.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Many&nbsp;children&nbsp;feel angry,&nbsp;sad or&nbsp;frustrated about the prospect of their parents splitting up and are uncertain what life will be like in future.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can influence the impact of your separation on your child by focusing on your ability to:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Communicate successfully with your child.<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Meet their needs for safety,&nbsp;security&nbsp;and support.<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Take care of yourself.<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Maintain a civil relationship with your ex.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>These things will&nbsp;all have a positive effect on your child. Given the right support, your child will be able to express their feelings and grieve their loss. They will be better able to emerge from this unsettling time stronger, and more resilient.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>One of the most helpful ways of reassuring your child about future plans and arrangements is to include them in your mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It can be very helpful to involve children directly in your mediation process:&nbsp;<strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\">use this link to read about child-inclusive mediation<\\\/a>.<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>And <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/NLI9k_fG9wI\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">watch this video<\\\/a><\\\/strong> to learn of Tom&#8217;s experience of being included in his parent&#8217;s mediation sessions. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Key messages from recent research from Exeter University show that : <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Children want a voice in key decision making when their parents separate<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Having your voice heard in mediation is empowering and cathartic<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Speaking to an empathetic third party provided an opportunity to discuss things children felt unable to raise with their parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Inclusion in mediation signalled parents cared about their opinion, helped them understand options and improved children&#8217;s communication with parents<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Family mediation helps parents stay in touch with their child after separation or divorce because it increases their ability to communicate with each other.&nbsp; That doesn\\u2019t mean parents have to be close with each other after they separate but in mediation they can find a new way of communicating now they are separated.&nbsp; <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>However you feel about your ex, you both remain parents to your child, regardless of your new situation. If you are to ensure your child grows up with a positive relationship with both of you,&nbsp;that&nbsp;means shaping a&nbsp;completely different relationship&nbsp;with your ex. One that some people compare to having a \\u2018business\\u2019 relationship, where the focus is your joint parenting responsibilities.&nbsp;&nbsp; Learning to co-parent after divorce or separation can be difficult &#8211; <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/tips-for-successful-co-parenting\\\/\\\">read our tips and advice on how to co-parent successfully. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Studies have found that parents who&nbsp;attend family&nbsp;mediation rather than court&nbsp;after divorce have&nbsp;significantly better long-term relationships with their children.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Children say they don\\u2019t like to take sides or like being put in a position to have to choose between their parents. What they do say is they want to have a voice in their family\\u2019s changing structure. They also say it\\u2019s their life too and these changes affect them. The best way you can help them with this is by including them in your mediation.&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Our expert&nbsp;mediators are trained to talk to children whose parents are going through a divorce so it may help them, and you, find a way through your family changes.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you&nbsp;want to know more about how family mediation can help you take the next steps in your life after separation or divorce&nbsp;use&nbsp;<strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/what-is-family-mediation\\\/\\\">this link<\\\/a>.<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\"><strong>You can find your nearest NFM family mediator&nbsp;here.<\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/contact-us\\\/\\\">You can ask&nbsp;us&nbsp;a question&nbsp;or make a booking&nbsp;here.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a34624\":\"<h2>Can I ask for a DNA paternity test?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>From time to time when parents separate there are concerns about the parentage of a child. It often causes difficulty when it comes to reaching settlement and means some lines of parental responsibility can become unclear until this is settled once and for all. You can read a <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/DNA-Testing-A-Brief-Introduction.pdf\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">brief guide to DNA testing her<\\\/a>e provided by <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.dnalegal.com\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">DNA legal<\\\/a>. If you think you need a DNA test you can contact us on <strong><a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\">0300 4000 636<\\\/a><\\\/strong>, or via <a href=\\\"mailto:general@nfm.org.uk\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\"><strong>email<\\\/strong><\\\/a>, or talk to your mediator about accessing the test. <\\\/p>\\n\",\"a34626\":\"<h2>Can I demand my ex-partner take a Drug\\\/Alcohol Test?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Sometimes it is difficult to make safe and regular contact arrangements when there are concerns about drug and alcohol use. It is a simple process to put your mind at ease through drug and alcohol testing. You can find out more about what is involved by reading our brief introduction documents &#8211; <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/Alcohol-Testing-\\u2013-A-Brief-Introduction.pdf\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Alcohol Test Introduction<\\\/a> and <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/Drug-Testing-A-Brief-Introduction.pdf\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Drug Test Introductio<\\\/a>n.  You can read more about these tests at <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.dnalegal.com\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">DNA Legal<\\\/a>, or If you want to take a test you can contact us on <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong><\\\/a>, or via <a href=\\\"mailto:general@nfm.org.uk\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\"><strong>email<\\\/strong><\\\/a>, or talk to your mediator about accessing the test. <\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37147\":\"<h2>What is Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Child Inclusive Mediation gives children a voice and an opportunity to share their worries, and concerns and contribute to the plans for the future when their parents have decided to divorce or separate. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>When children have been allowed to share their views in mediation, parents work together to make sure their children&#8217;s voices are heard and their wishes become a reality. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What are the Benefits of Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Child Inclusive Mediation provides children a safe space to express their thoughts, feelings and concerns &#8211; helping them to feel heard and validated, without fear of judgment<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>You can develop ideas and try out arrangements to see if they work for the whole family, without being constrained by court orders or statutory involvement, such as local authority or Cafcass. <\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It\\u2019s voluntary everybody agrees to try it &#8211; children are seen only with the agreement of both parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It helps you develop new methods of communication and prevents the children from becoming the messenger and being caught in the middle of conflicts<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It&#8217;s confidential<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Cost-effective and timely resolution. NFM offer Child-Inclusive Mediation for free and using mediation to agree issues relating to your separation is much faster, cheaper and less stressful for everyone involved than lengthy court battles and the associated legal expenses.  <\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How does it work ?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The mediator will talk to you about how your children can contribute, and if you both agree, they will arrange to meet with them at a convenient time for everyone and usually in a neutral space and a place where they feel safe, such as in their school. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>During the confidential meeting, the mediator will ask a series of open and age-appropriate questions to understand your children&#8217;s wishes and feelings about the things you have already agreed to be considered, examples include  : <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>How they feel about their current living situation? Is there anything they would like to change?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>How do they feel about the time they spend with each parent?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Who are the important people in their life that they feel close to?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Do they have any particular concerns?<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The success of child-inclusive mediation depends on the willingness and commitment of the parents to prioritise the best interests of their children.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">In Child Inclusive Mediation : <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Children will not be asked to make choices or decisions<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Parental authority is respected<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Children are seen only with the agreement of both parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>We discuss fully with the parents the process and purpose of a \\u201clistening meeting\\u201d before involving children.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\">You can read more about child-inclusive mediation here<\\\/a>, or <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">book an appointment with a family mediator. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a29008\":\"<h2>What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/h2><p>NFM is participating in the Government\\u2019s <strong>family mediation voucher scheme<\\\/strong>. <span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">It means \\u00a3500 is being made available for separating families with children, to go towards the cost of using accredited family mediation services.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">Family separation always brings a number of expenses, and this contribution towards making vital parenting arrangements through mediation will help reduce these costs \\u2013 whilst helping families ensure the settlements that are made are in everyone\\u2019s interests.\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">The voucher scheme is open to mediation participants who attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) on or after\\u00a0<\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">26 March 2021. The \\u00a3500 voucher is <strong>not<\\\/strong> useable to pay for the MIAM itself, but for the mediation that follows.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Find out more about the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\">mediation voucher scheme here<\\\/a> or call us on <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong> <\\\/a>to find out if you are eligible for a voucher.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a25472\":\"<h2>How much child maintenance should I pay?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>This depends on a range of factors, including the income of both parents, and any assets or debts they have.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The gov.uk website provides a <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gov.uk\\\/calculate-child-maintenance\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener noreferrer\\\">child maintenance calculator<\\\/a> so you can work out how much child maintenance your child will need<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How can family mediation help decide child maintenance payments?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can make arrangements for child maintenance payments as part of your mediation session. Experience shows that agreements reached in mediation are more likely to work, as the decisions have been reached by agreement.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>By using mediation to settle child maintenance you can avoid the costs and losses of using the statutory service and your agreement should be accepted as a voluntary arrangement.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/how-to-arrange-child-maintenance\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Read The Money Advice Service&#8217;s guide &#8216;How to arrange child maintenance&#8217;<\\\/a>.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a154\":\"<h2>What is family mediation?<\\\/h2><p>Family mediation is a conversation. It takes place between two people who have been in some form of relationship which is ending.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Family mediation helps them make decisions for the future.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Therefore family mediation focuses on issues affecting them both, for example parenting, property and money.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">Family mediation<\\\/span>&nbsp;typically involves the couple attending a series of face to face meetings. And the discussions are facilitated by a professional, trained mediator.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our family mediators know communicating after a separation is tough. So they are skilled at helping people work through issues they have to consider.&nbsp;These include practical,&nbsp;legal, financial&nbsp;and technical things.<\\\/p>\\n<p>And our mediators are skilled at helping when feelings are running high. And at time when co-operation is the last thing somebody expects from their ex.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/mediation-form\\\/\\\">Book an appointment with one of our expert mediators here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a3526\":\"<h2>What is a Separated Parents Information Programme?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>The Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) is now called Planning Together For Children and is designed to help you learn more about the challenges of post-separation parenting. The course provides advice and guidance about how best to help yourself and help your children in your situation.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can read more about the <a href=\\\"\\\/nfm-direct\\\/separated-parents-information-programme\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener noreferrer\\\">SPIP here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can find your nearest Planning Together For children (SPIP) provider on the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cafcass.gov.uk\\\/grown-ups\\\/parents-and-carers\\\/directory-of-providers\\\/?highlight=spip\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener noreferrer\\\">Cafcass website<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a293\":\"<h2>Can a child have a say in family mediation?<\\\/h2><p>Children can be involved in family mediation. They can help shape the way their lives pan out after their parents have separated.<\\\/p>\\n<p>As the founders of child-inclusive mediation, we are ideally placed to help you decide if this is suitable.<\\\/p>\\n<p>We will help you assess and decide whether child-inclusive mediation is appropriate for your case.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>If both parents&nbsp;agree the children should be involved, then our mediators help ensure this happens.<\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\">Use this link to read more about child-inclusive mediation<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our mediators are qualified and experienced in including children in family mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a4923\":\"<h2>What is parental responsibility?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Parental responsibility is not an easy concept to understand. It is defined in the Children Act 1989 as \\u201call the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property\\u201d.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A person who has parental responsibility has the right to be involved in major decisions concerning arrangements for a child e.g. education, medical treatment, change in residence. However, the acquisition of parental responsibility does not give a person the right to interfere in day to day arrangements for a child.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Do I have parental responsibility for my child?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A mother has automatic parental responsibility \\u2013 so does a married father. An unmarried father\\u00a0will only have parental responsibility if the registration of the birth took place after 1.12.2003 and\\u00a0the father is named on the birth certificate.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">I don&#8217;t have parental responsibility. How do I acquire it?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can do this in two ways:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>a) By entering into a written agreement with the mother on a prescribed form. This form has to be witnessed by a court official and is then sent to the Principal Registry of the Family Division in London and sealed copies are returned to each parent.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>b) By applying for a court order. The courts rarely refuse a father an order for parental responsibility particularly if he can demonstrate commitment towards the child by contact and financial support.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">I am a step-parent. Can I acquire parental responsibility? <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It is possible to acquire parental responsibility in two ways:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>a) You can enter into a written agreement with the parent or parents who already have parental responsibility for the child.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>b) The court may grant a parental responsibility order.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a6257\":\"<h2>Do I need my ex's permission to take our child on holiday?<\\\/h2><p>The short answer is yes, you do need their written permission.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If you are going abroad, say, for a two-week holiday, then you need to get permission from everyone with Parental Responsibility for the child before taking them abroad. A letter from your ex is usually enough to show you have got that permission.<\\\/p>\\n<p>You can only take your child abroad without getting permission (for up to 28 days) if you have a child arrangement order that says your child must live with you.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If your ex is not willing to give permission, you must apply for a court order to obtain permission to go abroad.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Bear in mind that the family court now places much more emphasis on parents reaching their own agreements and, in most cases, there is a requirement that parents have, at the very least, had a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting before an application to court can be made.<\\\/p>\\n<p>If your intention is to leave the country for longer or more permanently, and you are unable to agree this with your ex, then you will need to make an application to court for a Specific Issue order.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a5146\":\"<h2>What is a CAFCASS Report?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Where court proceedings have been started and there is continuing dispute about arrangements for children, the court has the power to direct a CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) officer to prepare an independent report, which involves collecting information from relevant adults, other professionals, e.g. schoolteachers, and meeting the children themselves. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>This report should be based on the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legislation.gov.uk\\\/ukpga\\\/1989\\\/41\\\/section\\\/1\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\"><strong>welfare checklist<\\\/strong><\\\/a> and may contain recommendations for future arrangements for the children. When complete the report is filed with the court and a copy is made available to the parents and their legal representatives (if they have one). If your case proceeds to a full contested hearing the court can direct the CAFCASS officer to attend court and give evidence.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a5144\":\"<h2>What does the court consider when making an order under the Children Act 1989?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Under The Children Act 1989 the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration of the court when looking at the child\\u2019s upbringing or the administration of a child\\u2019s property or income. In reaching many decisions the court has to consider the welfare checklist set out below:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>a) the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding).<br>b) their physical, emotional and educational needs<br>c) the likely effect on them of any change of circumstances<br>d) their age, sex, background and any characteristics of them which the court considers relevant<br>e) any harm which they have suffered or is at risk of suffering<br>f) how capable each of their parents, and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting their needs<br>g) the range of powers available to the court under the Act in the proceedings in question.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>One of the underlying principles of the Children Act is that \\u201cthe court shall not make the order or any of the orders unless it considers that doing so would be better for the child than making no order at all\\u201d. A second very important principle is that delay is presumed to be harmful for a child.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What is &#8216;custody&#8217; and &#8216;access&#8217;?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>&#8216;Custody&#8217; and &#8216;access&#8217; are now outdated legal terms. The court will make a child arrangement order that will : <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul><li>outline where the children will live<\\\/li><li>how much time they will spend with each parent<\\\/li><li>how the children will be financially supported<\\\/li><li>and when and what other type of contact will take place. e.g. phone calls, holidays<\\\/li><\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p> You are encouraged to agree a parenting plan if you want a record of your agreement and you can make it legally binding through a consent order. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What are prohibited steps and specific issue orders?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A prohibited steps order is designed to prevent a parent doing a specific thing relevant to their child without the consent of the court. Such an order can be made in conjunction with a contact or residence order. Frequently, it is used where a parent is threatening to take the child out of the jurisdiction of the court.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A specific issue order allows the court to determine an issue usually relating to some aspect of parental responsibility e.g. where there are differences as to schooling, medical treatment, changing a child\\u2019s surname and other specific aspects of a child\\u2019s upbringing. As with prohibited steps, the order can be made in conjunction with residence or contact orders.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What is a contact order?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A contact order is now called a &#8216;child arrangement order&#8217;, or &#8216;consent order&#8217; if you agree. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A child arrangement order requires the person with whom a child lives, to allow the child to visit or stay with\\u00a0the person named in the order or to have contact in some other form.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Contact can be direct (visiting\\\/staying) or indirect (letter\\\/cards\\\/presents). <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Contact with their natural parents is regarded as a fundamental right of the child and there\\u00a0have to be strong reasons for a court to refuse contact.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What is a residence order?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A residence order has been replaced with the child arrangements order. The child arrangements order sets out where children will live.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What is shared residence?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>A child arrangement order will set out where the children will live. This may be shared between two people with parental responsibility, so the children in effect have more than\\u00a0one place they consider to be their home and their time is shared between the two.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a5148\":\"<h2>How does child protection legislation affect our situation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Under The Children Act 1989 a local authority has a duty to investigate whenever it receives information which may suggest that a child within its area is suffering or is likely to suffer<br>significant harm. The Act gives the following definitions:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul><li>Harm \\u2013 means ill-treatment or the impairment of health or development. This definition has been widened to include any impairment of a child\\u2019s health or development as a result of witnessing the ill-treatment of another person, such as domestic violence<\\\/li><li>Development \\u2013 means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development<\\\/li><li>Health \\u2013 means physical or mental health<\\\/li><li>Ill-treatment \\u2013 includes sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment which are not physical<\\\/li><\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The local authority must make enquiries to enable it to decide what action should be taken to safeguard and promote the child\\u2019s welfare. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>This will mean the court may put restrictions on how children stay in contact with their parents, or extended family if they feel it is in the child&#8217;s best interests.<\\\/p>\\n\"},\"t135\":{\"a34385\":\"<h2>Grandparents Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren,&nbsp;so when the child\\u2019s parents separate or divorce, it can have a profound effect on grandparents too.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>It\\u2019s usually a positive thing if grandparents can stay in touch with their grandchildren, and family mediation can play a part in ensuring this happens.&nbsp;Grandparents\\u2019 rights to see children are often a focus of conversations with family mediators.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Children benefit from reassurance in times of change and they need to know:<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>It is not their fault&nbsp;<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>They are loved, and&nbsp;<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>They have someone to talk with about their feelings.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Children may feel they are to blame for adult disagreements and a grandparent may help the children in their families understand the changes they are experiencing\\u00a0are\\u00a0not their fault.\\u00a0 It is important to remember they may feel conflicting loyalties \\u2013 listening without criticising either parent will help them to continue to talk about their feelings.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>We have lots of advice on how you can <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/how-to-help-children-during-divorce-or-separation\\\/\\\">help support your grandchildren through divorce<\\\/a> and <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/reducing-impact-of-separation-children\\\/\\\">how to reduce the impact of divorce on children<\\\/a>, which may be useful to share with their parents.  Books are also a good way to help children deal with some of the issues children face during divorce or separation and we have put together a l<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/books-to-help-children-understand-divorce\\\/\\\">ist of books that may be of help.<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How Family Mediation Can Help\\u00a0<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Grandparents have no automatic right to be part of their grandchild\\u2019s life, but family mediation can help reduce conflict between family members after separation or divorce. It\\u2019s\\u00a0often the best way to resume contact and secure\\u00a0the relationships you\\u2019ve worked hard to build up with\\u00a0your grandchildren.\\u00a0<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How can you help your child through their divorce?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Divorce is a difficult and emotional experience for anyone, and as a parent of a child going through a divorce, it can be challenging.  <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Let your child know that you are there to support, by simply listening to them, or helping with practical matters if you can. They may need to look for a new home, or need help managing their finances, and you may be able to help them with this.  It&#8217;s also important to remind them that they need to look after themselves, this could include making time to exercise, meditate or simply ensuring they are spending time with friends.  They may also be struggling to communicate with their ex-partner over parenting arrangements, but learning to co-parent is crucial for the well-being of your grandchildren, so you may want to share our <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/tips-for-successful-co-parenting\\\/\\\">tips and advice with them on how to successfully co-parent together. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>But most importantly they want to know you are there for them &#8211; and your support and understanding will go a long way in helping them through this challenging time.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n    <div class=\\\"db-accordion \\\" id=\\\"accordion-block_9ffeb83e6468840d2fc005556e24f649\\\" data-behaviour=\\\"accordion\\\" data-fx=\\\"show\\\" data-speed=\\\"300\\\">\\n\\n                        <div class=\\\"db-accordion-item \\\" data-item=\\\"1\\\" data-toggle=\\\"closed\\\" data-init=\\\"closed\\\">\\n                    <div class=\\\"db-accordion-item-title\\\">\\n                        Read how family mediation helped Sandy, Trude &#038; Evie                    <\\\/div>\\n                    <div class=\\\"db-accordion-item-content\\\" style=\\\"display:none\\\">\\n                        <p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Sandy, a widow in her late 50s, lost her son Adam to cancer in the middle of 2010. Before his death, Adam had lived happily with his girlfriend\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0and their six-month-old baby Evie.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Sandy enjoyed looking after Evie as often as she could, and her help and support were needed more than ever when Adam was ill.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Following Adam\\u2019s death,\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0returned to her hometown with Evie, some 300 miles away from Sandy. In her grief,\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0felt unable to return Sandy\\u2019s calls or make arrangements to see her.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">As a result, Sandy lost touch with Evie, which compounded her grief. She found it unbearable to think of Evie losing another family member who she had bonded with, so soon after losing her father. Sandy felt rejected by\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0and was afraid to keep contacting her.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">By now,\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0was wondering why Sandy had lost touch, feeling she had let her down.\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0became more isolated in her own grief.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">Not knowing where else to turn and reluctant to take the drastic step of court action, Sandy contacted National Family\\u00a0Mediation (NFM). After discussing the situation the\\u00a0mediator suggested that NFM send a letter to\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0setting out the potential benefits of\\u00a0mediation, stressing its voluntary nature, to see if this would help to re-establish contact between Sandy and Evie.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\">On receipt of the letter,\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0contacted NFM immediately and after being reassured by a trained member of staff about the voluntary and conciliatory nature of\\u00a0mediation,\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0said that Sandy could call her any time. Sandy,\\u00a0Trude\\u00a0and Evie were reunited within two weeks of contacting NFM.<\\\/p>\\n<p class=\\\"db_can_animate db_ready_to_animate db_is_visible\\\"><em>This is a real case study from our trained mediators, though names have been changed to protect identities.<\\\/em><\\\/p>\\n                    <\\\/div>\\n                <\\\/div>\\n                \\n    <\\\/div>\\n\\n    \\n\\n\\n<p>You can find your nearest NFM family mediator&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/find-help-near-you\\\/\\\">here<\\\/a>&nbsp;<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can ask&nbsp;us&nbsp;a question&nbsp;or make a booking&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/contact-us\\\/\\\">here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a154\":\"<h2>What is family mediation?<\\\/h2><p>Family mediation is a conversation. It takes place between two people who have been in some form of relationship which is ending.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Family mediation helps them make decisions for the future.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Therefore family mediation focuses on issues affecting them both, for example parenting, property and money.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">Family mediation<\\\/span>&nbsp;typically involves the couple attending a series of face to face meetings. And the discussions are facilitated by a professional, trained mediator.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our family mediators know communicating after a separation is tough. So they are skilled at helping people work through issues they have to consider.&nbsp;These include practical,&nbsp;legal, financial&nbsp;and technical things.<\\\/p>\\n<p>And our mediators are skilled at helping when feelings are running high. And at time when co-operation is the last thing somebody expects from their ex.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/mediation-form\\\/\\\">Book an appointment with one of our expert mediators here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a1399\":\"<h2>What grandparents need to know about mediation<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Grandparents play an important part in the lives of their grandchildren. It\\u2019s usually a positive thing if they can stay in touch with them after there has been a separation or divorce.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">I used to see my grandchildren, but now I am not allowed to. What rights do I have?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Grandparents have no automatic right to be part of their grandchild\\u2019s life. Family mediation can help reduce conflict between family members after separation or divorce. It is often the best way to resume contact.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>As a last resort, a court can be approached to make a child arrangement order. This will happen if the court considers it to be in the child\\u2019s best interests.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">Book an appointment to see an expert mediator<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How can I help my grandchildren cope with changes in their lives now their parents have separated?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Children benefit from reassurance in times of change. They need to know:<br>\\u2022 It is not their fault<br>\\u2022 They are loved, and<br>\\u2022 Someone is there to talk to about their feelings<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Of course, children may have conflicting loyalties.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Listening without criticism of either parent will help them continue to talk about their feelings.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/how-to-help-children-during-divorce-or-separation\\\/\\\">You may also want to read our advice on how you can support children going through divorce. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What help can I get to begin the mediation process?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you feel unable to contact the adults who care for your grandchild\\\/ren, you can approach your local National Family Mediation service.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Experienced staff will explain the process of mediation. They will discuss with you the best way of inviting your relatives to participate.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Our staff will also explain the costs, and whether you are eligible for help in meeting these costs.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">Can I insist my family takes part in mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>No. Mediation is voluntary for all parties. It offers a safe place for families to make decisions in the best interests of their children. Mediators are professionally trained. They will help you negotiate with your family, and therefore help you to reach a settlement for future relationships with your grandchildren.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a293\":\"<h2>Can a child have a say in family mediation?<\\\/h2><p>Children can be involved in family mediation. They can help shape the way their lives pan out after their parents have separated.<\\\/p>\\n<p>As the founders of child-inclusive mediation, we are ideally placed to help you decide if this is suitable.<\\\/p>\\n<p>We will help you assess and decide whether child-inclusive mediation is appropriate for your case.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>If both parents&nbsp;agree the children should be involved, then our mediators help ensure this happens.<\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\">Use this link to read more about child-inclusive mediation<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our mediators are qualified and experienced in including children in family mediation.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a5096\":\"<h2>I am a grandparent ... can I apply for residence or contact?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>The terms residence and contact orders are no longer used. As a grandparent, you will need leave of the court to bring an application for a child arrangements order. You can only make an application if the court gives you permission. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You will need to attend a compulsory MIAM<em> (Mediation Information Assessment Meeting)<\\\/em> with a mediator to see if mediation is suitable. Mediation is a good way of helping you reach agreement about how you will see your grandchildren if you and the parents agree to attend.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Legal proceedings can be very stressful and expensive, and there is no guarantee of success, so reaching agreement in mediation can save you time and money, as well as restoring relationships. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/information-for-grandparents\\\/\\\"><strong>Read more information for grandparents here <\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">Click here to book an appointment with a mediator <\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Or contact us for more information by phone <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong><\\\/a> or email <a href=\\\"mailto:general@nfm.org.uk\\\"><strong>general@nfm.org.uk <\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\"},\"t134\":{\"a34384\":\"<h2>Children & Teens Introduction<\\\/h2>\\n<p>If your parents are going through a separation or divorce, you will want to know how it will affect you and what you can do about it.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You may feel uncertain about your future, and you may find it hard to share your worries with your parents because you know they are also going through big changes in their lives. You may worry about talking to either one of your parents for fear of being seen to take sides.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The most important thing is not to panic, and to know this is not your fault. You can\\u2019t really change their situation. But it can be very helpful to try to let them know how you feel about things.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Equally you will want to know what is going to happen in the future, where you will live, who with, will you see both of your parents and grandparents or aunts, uncles and cousins. What about your friends and social life. You will want to know how this might be affected. And most importantly you will probably want to tell your parents what your hopes for the future are.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Even though it might not be easy to talk to your parents about this, it is important they understand how these changes are affecting you.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If you find it difficult to talk to your parents at this time, and that is quite common, it is a good idea to find someone else to talk to: A grandparent, a teacher at school or a family friend.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>At National Family Mediation, we understand the effect divorce or separation has on children and know that you too will have some worries and concerns about what the future holds.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If your parents are in family mediation ask them if you can be involved. You can have an opportunity to talk to the mediator and tell them how you feel about the changes that are taking place. The mediator will help you get your point of view across to your parents if you feel they aren\\u2019t listening.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Children and Young people who have been included in mediation say they were glad to be able to tell their parents what they needed now their family is changing.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>They said meeting the mediator gave them an opportunity to discuss things they felt unable to raise with their parents.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>That seeing the mediator helped them understand the options available to them and made it easier to talk to their parents and they felt being included in mediation meant their parents cared about their opinions and feelings. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><strong>You can watch this video below of Tom&#8217;s experience of being included in mediation. <\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n<div class=\\\"video-holder  has-ratio-\\\"><iframe width=\\\"640\\\" height=\\\"360\\\" loading=\\\"lazy\\\" src=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/embed\\\/NLI9k_fG9wI?autoplay=0&color=red&controls=1&enablejsapi=1&end=0&fs=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&mute=0&playlist=NLI9k_fG9wI&rel=0&start=0&wmode=transparent\\\" frameborder=\\\"0\\\" allow=\\\"fullscreen; autoplay; encrypted-media\\\" allowfullscreen><\\\/iframe><\\\/div>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>Tell your parents you want them to go to mediation and you want to be included in the mediation.  <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/tips-for-successful-co-parenting\\\/\\\">It may also be useful to share with them our tips and advice on how they can learn to successfully co-parent together. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h6 class=\\\"wp-block-heading has-accent-3-background-color has-background\\\">Remember, things will get better. Parents rarely stay angry with each other forever and mediation will help them move on with their lives as separated parents. They both love you however hard it may be for them to show you that sometimes. Many children grow up with separated parents and you will probably be able to talk to other people your age about their circumstances. Just remember that everyone is different. Make sure you look after yourself and if you find yourself worrying find someone to talk to. Even if it is just a mate!<\\\/h6>\\n\",\"a34992\":\"<h2>As a child can I have a say in family mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Yes, you can. Now your parents have decided to separate you will have a lot of questions about what happens next, where you will live, when you will see your parents, extended family and friends? And you will probably want to know how it is all going to work.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>&nbsp;If it\\u2019s difficult to talk to your parents and they seem to be arguing or ignoring how you feel about the changes ask them to consider mediation. It will help them to have a more constructive discussion about what happens next now their relationship has ended. And you will have an opportunity to talk about your own worries and concerns.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>&nbsp;If your parents are already in mediation tell them you would like to be included.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>If your parents end up in court a judge will expect your views to be taken into consideration. Especially if you are aged 10 years and older although younger children can also be included. You can do the same in mediation, after all, the decisions that your parents are making will have an impact on your life.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can use this link to read more about <strong><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">child inclusive mediation.<\\\/a><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>You can <strong><a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\">call us<\\\/a><\\\/strong> to ask for a meeting with a mediator.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a37147\":\"<h2>What is Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n<p>Child Inclusive Mediation gives children a voice and an opportunity to share their worries, and concerns and contribute to the plans for the future when their parents have decided to divorce or separate. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>When children have been allowed to share their views in mediation, parents work together to make sure their children&#8217;s voices are heard and their wishes become a reality. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">What are the Benefits of Child Inclusive Mediation?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Child Inclusive Mediation provides children a safe space to express their thoughts, feelings and concerns &#8211; helping them to feel heard and validated, without fear of judgment<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>You can develop ideas and try out arrangements to see if they work for the whole family, without being constrained by court orders or statutory involvement, such as local authority or Cafcass. <\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It\\u2019s voluntary everybody agrees to try it &#8211; children are seen only with the agreement of both parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It helps you develop new methods of communication and prevents the children from becoming the messenger and being caught in the middle of conflicts<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>It&#8217;s confidential<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Cost-effective and timely resolution. NFM offer Child-Inclusive Mediation for free and using mediation to agree issues relating to your separation is much faster, cheaper and less stressful for everyone involved than lengthy court battles and the associated legal expenses.  <\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">How does it work ?<\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The mediator will talk to you about how your children can contribute, and if you both agree, they will arrange to meet with them at a convenient time for everyone and usually in a neutral space and a place where they feel safe, such as in their school. <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>During the confidential meeting, the mediator will ask a series of open and age-appropriate questions to understand your children&#8217;s wishes and feelings about the things you have already agreed to be considered, examples include  : <\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>How they feel about their current living situation? Is there anything they would like to change?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>How do they feel about the time they spend with each parent?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Who are the important people in their life that they feel close to?<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Do they have any particular concerns?<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p>The success of child-inclusive mediation depends on the willingness and commitment of the parents to prioritise the best interests of their children.<\\\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n<h2 class=\\\"wp-block-heading\\\">In Child Inclusive Mediation : <\\\/h2>\\n\\n\\n\\n<ul>\\n<li>Children will not be asked to make choices or decisions<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Parental authority is respected<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>Children are seen only with the agreement of both parents<\\\/li>\\n\\n\\n\\n<li>We discuss fully with the parents the process and purpose of a \\u201clistening meeting\\u201d before involving children.<\\\/li>\\n<\\\/ul>\\n\\n\\n\\n<p><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/nfm-direct\\\/child-inclusive-mediation\\\/\\\">You can read more about child-inclusive mediation here<\\\/a>, or <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/book-an-appointment\\\/\\\">book an appointment with a family mediator. <\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\",\"a29008\":\"<h2>What is the Government family mediation voucher scheme?<\\\/h2><p>NFM is participating in the Government\\u2019s <strong>family mediation voucher scheme<\\\/strong>. <span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">It means \\u00a3500 is being made available for separating families with children, to go towards the cost of using accredited family mediation services.\\u00a0\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">Family separation always brings a number of expenses, and this contribution towards making vital parenting arrangements through mediation will help reduce these costs \\u2013 whilst helping families ensure the settlements that are made are in everyone\\u2019s interests.\\u00a0<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">The voucher scheme is open to mediation participants who attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) on or after\\u00a0<\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\\\">26 March 2021. The \\u00a3500 voucher is <strong>not<\\\/strong> useable to pay for the MIAM itself, but for the mediation that follows.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Find out more about the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nfm.org.uk\\\/about-family-mediation-services\\\/family-mediation-voucher-scheme\\\/\\\">mediation voucher scheme here<\\\/a> or call us on <a href=\\\"tel:03004000636\\\"><strong>0300 4000 636<\\\/strong> <\\\/a>to find out if you are eligible for a voucher.<\\\/p>\\n\",\"a154\":\"<h2>What is family mediation?<\\\/h2><p>Family mediation is a conversation. It takes place between two people who have been in some form of relationship which is ending.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Family mediation helps them make decisions for the future.<\\\/p>\\n<p>Therefore family mediation focuses on issues affecting them both, for example parenting, property and money.<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">Family mediation<\\\/span>&nbsp;typically involves the couple attending a series of face to face meetings. And the discussions are facilitated by a professional, trained mediator.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p>Our family mediators know communicating after a separation is tough. So they are skilled at helping people work through issues they have to consider.&nbsp;These include practical,&nbsp;legal, financial&nbsp;and technical things.<\\\/p>\\n<p>And our mediators are skilled at helping when feelings are running high. And at time when co-operation is the last thing somebody expects from their ex.&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props=\\\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\\\">&nbsp;<\\\/span><\\\/p>\\n<p><a href=\\\"\\\/mediation-form\\\/\\\">Book an appointment with one of our expert mediators here<\\\/a><\\\/p>\\n\"}};\n<\/script>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Frequently Asked Questions Please use the tabs below to search through our frequently asked questions, or alternatively, you can use [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-blank-builder.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/128"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfm.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}