Mediation about children

Children can cope with separation if conflict is managed and their parents can work out arrangements.

No matter how important your children are to you, when emotions are raw and your own needs aren’t being met, achieving these two aims can feel like a real uphill struggle. Mediation makes the difference because when the mediator manages your discussion and keeps your children’s needs at the centre, you can focus on the things that matter.

With the mediator to support your communication, you can agree:

• arrangements for children to spend time with each parent
• schools and other activities
• channels and methods of communication between parents
• explanations to children
• involvement of other people
• financial support for your children

Agreed decisions are summarised in writing and sent to you. This summary isn’t legally binding. Occasionally, parents agree to ask a court for a consent order based on their decisions in mediation, (this has the same status as any court order). In practice, decisions reached by agreement increase willingness to make them work and to make the necessary adjustments as your children grow and change, so most parents decide a court order isn’t necessary.

We can also include your children in the mediation process with Child Inclusive Mediation.