Family MEDIATION IN Surrey and LEGAL AID

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Family Mediation in Surrey has a particularly interesting feature related to its community-focused history and the breadth of integrated support available.

Here is an interesting insight into family mediation in the Surrey area:

The most interesting aspect of family mediation in Surrey is the strength of its local, not-for-profit mediation services and their integration into the wider community support system.

• A Focus on All Conflict: While many private mediation firms focus solely on divorce, several prominent Surrey mediation services have origins in community-based mediation. They were formed from the merger of smaller, local charities (like those in Mid, North, West, and East Surrey).
  
• Wider Scope of Skills: This background means many mediators and services in Surrey not only focus on divorce and child arrangements but also offer services like Intergenerational Mediation (for disputes between family members across generations) and even Community Support Coaching.
  
• The Benefit to Families: This results in a service that often looks beyond the immediate legal or financial settlement. When parents are struggling with a breakdown in communication, for example, the mediator may be equipped to offer more holistic guidance drawn from a background in general conflict resolution, helping to rebuild a functional co-parenting relationship that is vital for the long-term well-being of the children.
• High Success Rates: These locally focused services often report very high success rates in helping families resolve disputes, which is a testament to their deep-rooted community knowledge and dedicated, often volunteer-backed, approach.

In short, in Surrey, family mediation is often less of a standalone legal process and more of an integrated community resource dedicated to reducing conflict in all forms within the family and community.

 We currently provide four core services:  Workplace Mediation, Civil  and Family Mediation. We provide high quality, impartial and confidential support to promote and provide for the public benefit. This includes the provision of mediation, coaching and dispute resolution. 

The family mediation process typically involves a series of structured stages, from the initial assessment of suitability to the final documentation of the agreement.

The main stages are:

The mediation process legally begins with the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

• Purpose: This is a mandatory introductory meeting with an accredited mediator before you can apply to court for most financial or children orders. It determines whether mediation is a suitable and safe process for your specific situation.
  
• Format: Each party attends a separate, confidential meeting with the mediator. This allows the mediator to discuss the process, explore the issues, assess safety concerns (like domestic abuse), and check for legal aid eligibility.
  
• Outcome: If mediation is deemed suitable and both parties agree to proceed, the process moves to joint sessions. If mediation is unsuitable or one party declines, the mediator can issue a certificate required to apply to court.
  

Once both parties have attended their MIAM and mediation is deemed appropriate:

• Agreement to Mediate: Both parties sign a formal document outlining the principles of mediation, including confidentiality, voluntary participation, the mediator's impartiality, and fees.
• Financial Disclosure (if applicable): If financial matters are being discussed, the parties gather and exchange complete financial information (e.g., bank statements, property valuations, pension details). This ensures everyone is negotiating based on a full and honest picture.
  

This is the core of the mediation process, usually involving 2 to 5 sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues.

• Setting the Agenda: The mediator helps the parties identify and prioritize the issues to be discussed (e.g., child arrangements, division of property, spousal maintenance).
  
• Exploration and Negotiation: The mediator facilitates communication, helping the parties explore different options, understand each other's needs, and generate mutually acceptable solutions. The mediator remains neutral, providing legal information but not legal advice.
  
• Child-Inclusive Mediation (CIM): If the children are over a certain age and all parties agree, a specially trained mediator may meet with the children separately to ensure their views and feelings are considered in the final arrangements.
  

When an agreement is reached, the mediator prepares two key documents:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): This document sets out the details of the agreement reached on all issues (e.g., who gets what share of the assets, the agreed-upon parenting schedule). It is not legally binding itself.
  
• Open Financial Statement (OFS): Prepared in financial cases only, this document summarizes the full financial disclosure of both parties, on which the agreement was based.
  
• Legal Formalisation: The parties are strongly advised to take the MOU and OFS to their own solicitors for independent legal advice. The solicitors can then draft a Consent Order (for finances) or a Child Arrangements Order (if needed) to be submitted to the court, making the agreement legally binding and enforceable.
  

Areas

Addlestone Ashtead Bagshot Banstead Byfleet Camberley Cranleigh Farnham Frimley Godalming Guildford Horley Oxshott Oxted Redhill Reigate Runnymede Shepperton Sunbury Sunbury Common Sunbury-on-Thames Thames Ditton Virginia Water Walton-on-Thames Walton on the Hill Wentworth Weybridge  Windlesham Wisley