New push for mediation services

The Government is urging a quicker, simpler, cheaper approach for separating partners – as the level of broken marriages expects to peak this month. Its Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has pledged an additional £10 million into mediation services. This is where an independent, qualified third-party helps couples divide their assets or arrange child contact without going through the courts. Mediation services, on average, cost an eighth (£500 for publicly funded clients) of the typical £4,000 for separation issues settled through the courts and take a quarter of the time (110 days compared with 435 days for non-mediated cases). The post-Christmas period sees enquiries concerning separation and divorce soar – with the first working day in January dubbed 'Divorce Day'. Family justice minister Lord Thomas McNally said: "All too often money is wasted on expensive and traumatic court hearings that can take far too long to resolve. "That is why we want to help people to use mediation, a quicker and simpler approach which brings better outcomes." Legal advice from a lawyer usually forms some of the mediation procedure.

Our Family and Matrimonial team offers mediation services for separating couples. For advice, contact a member of the team: call 01494 790058 or email familylaw@ibblaw.co.uk.