Going through a Separation or a Divorce is one of the most stressful times in any person’s life. A Mediator in Family Mediation can help at this time. Mediate Ireland provides mediators nationwide with particular emphasis on Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway & Tipperary.
The most sensible approach is to bring in a non-involved third party to Mediate the issues, using our Family Mediation Service. This will diffuse the situation and provide an environment where a guided and safe communication session can happen.
What Mediators do during a Family Mediation
The many emotionally charged areas of conflict that arise and are dealt with by Mediators include;
- Childcare arrangments
- Spousal & Child Maintenance,
- Division of Assets,
- Pensions and Insurances / Business Assets / Future Inheritance,
- New living arrangements, including that of any children,
- Issues involving children including, Access, Custody and Guardianship
- Issues surrounding the education and schooling of the children,
- Family holidays & special occasions (Christmas etc),
- Succession Issues,
During this time, many couples during a breakup experience arguments, confrontation and emotional hurt which make dealing with these issues even more difficult and fraught.
The Family Mediation Process is:
- A totally confidential process between the parties
- A safe, neutral and non-threatening environment in which to discuss issues
- Completely Impartial
- An organised and constructive process
- Non judgemental and Non adversarial (as would be typical of court proceedings)
- A process leading to a lasting long term agreement
- Agreed to and ‘owned’ by the parties themselves
- Quick, typically only lasting a day
It is important that a separating couple in a breakup have their own independent legal advice. At the end of the Family Law Mediation process, a mediated agreement is reached, which is a clear jargon free, easily understood document. This document will usually involve technical arrangements to be drawn up and/or entered into thereafter – to give full legal effect to the couple’s own agreement. Whilst we provide services directly to the parties we recommend, in most cases, that they have Solicitors and/or Counsel with them, or immediately available to them, for the mediation process. The solicitors will understand the parties’ own agreement far better if they are present or involved when it is reached – rather than being presented with it later on.
The ultimate separation evolving from the mediated agreement may take the form of a traditional ‘Separation Agreement’; or, it may take the form of Consent or Compromise Terms upon which a court can grant a (Judicial) Separation or a Divorce. Accordingly independent separate legal advice is recommended so that the agreement of the parties can be fully and legally effected thereafter.
Family Law Mediation in a breakup will:
- Significantly speed up the process of either a Separation or Divorce
- Give a better and more effective outcome that makes sense to the parties themselves
- Dramatically reduce the cost of the whole process
