MEDIATION IN Tyne & wear and LEGAL AID

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Dealing with family disputes, especially divorce or separation, can be incredibly stressful and emotionally draining. If you are based in the Tyne and Wear area, including Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, and South Tyneside, there is a constructive, less adversarial alternative to traditional court battles: Family Mediation.

Family Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where an impartial third party—a trained Family Mediator—helps separating or divorcing couples, or other family members, communicate effectively and reach mutually acceptable agreements.

It is a client-led process focused on resolving disagreements about financial matters and child arrangements (sometimes called child contact or custody). Mediation aims to empower you to make decisions about your future, rather than having them imposed by a judge and the courts of the North East.

Choosing mediation offers significant advantages over litigation, saving you the stress and cost of lengthy court proceedings, particularly at local venues like the Newcastle Civil and Family Courts:

• Cost-Effective: Mediation is typically much cheaper than going to court. Legal fees for court proceedings can escalate quickly, whereas mediation involves a fixed hourly rate for the sessions.
• Faster Resolution: The mediation process is often quicker than waiting for court dates, allowing you to move forward with your life sooner.
• Confidential: Unlike court hearings, the discussions in mediation are confidential (with a few exceptions, such as safeguarding concerns).
• Empowerment and Control: You and your former partner retain control over the outcome. Agreements are tailor-made for your family's unique circumstances, unlike court orders which can be rigid.
• Better Communication: Mediation helps improve future co-parenting communication, which is essential when children are involved.

The process begins with a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). This mandatory first step (before applying to court for most issues) is a private meeting between you and the local Family Mediator. The mediator will:

• Explain the mediation process, its suitability, and the alternatives.
• Assess whether Family Mediation is appropriate and safe for your situation.
• Sign the necessary court form (Form A) if mediation is deemed unsuitable or if the other party refuses to attend.

If mediation is suitable, you will attend joint sessions with the other party. The mediator facilitates the discussion, ensuring a balanced environment, and guides you through the complex issues:

• Child Arrangements: Creating a parenting plan detailing where the children will live, holiday arrangements, and child contact schedules.
• Financial Settlement: Discussing the division of assets, property, pensions, and exploring spousal maintenance and child maintenance.

Once an agreement is reached, the mediator will draft two key documents:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): This document outlines the details of your agreement.
• Open Financial Statement (OFS): This document summarises your financial disclosures.

These documents are not legally binding on their own. You will need to take them to a local solicitor in the Tyne and Wear area who will draft a legally binding Consent Order for approval by the court. This crucial step legally formalises your divorce settlement or separation agreement.

Our mediators are accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and able to offer mediation services funded by Legal Aid and the Government Voucher Scheme.

Area covered

 Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, South Shields, Sunderland, Whitley Bay

Amity Mediation Tyne and Wear

 The metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear is a vibrant urban area in North East England, named after its two major rivers, the River Tyne and the River Wear. It is governed by five metropolitan boroughs: the two main cities, Newcastle upon Tyne (the largest settlement and commercial hub, famous for its bridges and Geordie culture) and the City of Sunderland (historically important for shipbuilding and glass making), along with the three large boroughs of Gateshead (home to the iconic Angel of the North, located directly across the Tyne from Newcastle), North Tyneside (which includes the coastal towns of Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, and historic Wallsend, the end of Hadrian's Wall), and South Tyneside (which features the port of South Shields, as well as the towns of Jarrow and Hebburn). The area is highly urbanised, forming the Tyneside and Wearside conurbations, and is connected by the efficient Tyne & Wear Metro system. 

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