Welcome to Family Mediation at JustMediation.co.uk

JustMediation.co.uk is based in Churchgate Street, Old Harlow, Essex (on the Herts/Essex border). We specialise in providing family mediation to separating couples whether married, unmarried or same sex. We also offer child inclusive mediation.

Mediation is primarily carried out online via Zoom, with appointments being available both during the day and in the evening (weekend appointments are also available). Our Zoom rates are highly competitive at £100 per hour per adult (under 18s free for child-inclusive mediation). There is no VAT or any other extra costs (e.g. all documentation/photocopying/postage is included). Any initial telephone consultation is also free of charge.

Mediation is also offered face-to-face, by arrangement. Face-to-face rates start at £120 per hour per adult (under 18s free for child-inclusive mediation). There is no VAT or any other extra costs (e.g. all documentation/photocopying/postage is included). Any initial telephone consultation is also free of charge.

All mediations are undertaken by fully accredited family mediators with FMCA status registered with the Family Mediation Council.

We welcome inquiries from individuals, solicitors, accountants and any interested organisations.

Family Mediation is most commonly provided to couples who are separating or divorcing or who have already separated and can include their children and other family members where appropriate.

All issues (children, property and finance) are normally addressed during mediation.

Child Issues

Mediators work with parents to assist them to make decisions about their future role as parents, which continues after the ending of the adult relationship. Mediators work to help parents focus on the ‘welfare needs’ of the children rather than their own personal preferences. Such decisions may include:-

  • Where and with whom the children shall live, including the possibility of shared residence.
  • Arrangements for the children to see/stay with the non resident parent – and perhaps with other f amily members (e.g. grandparents).
  • Parenting agreements which set out how a whole variety of arrangements for education, holidays, medical issues, religious matters and many others can be agreed – before they happen. The Government Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has a Parenting Plan and also guides for children and young people whose parents are separating (see the https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/ web site).

Finance & Property Issues

The purpose is to assist former partners to make a full disclosure of their finances, valued and set out in a manner acceptable to a court, then to agree their distribution.

The mediation sessions:-

  • Guide you through the maze which starts from being together through to separation and, if you are married to each other, divorce.
  • Assist in the identification of assets, liabilities, income and expenditure.
  • Using this information, the mediator will produce an Open Financial Statement that will help you explore what options might be available and the likely consequences.
  • Help you to negotiate and agree proposals for the re-distribution of your finances in what you can regard as being fair – whilst remembering that it costs more to run two homes than one!

These proposals will include your family home and the mortgage, any other properties, endowments and other assurances, bank and savings accounts, vehicles, shares, valuable items, businesses and pensions.

Mediation will include an explanation of the role of the CSA/Child Maintenance Options and the mediator will assist you to make a private arrangement about payment of child support and maintenance.

The proposals will be written up in a detailed document known as a Memorandum of Understanding. Commonly this document is used by a family lawyer to draw up a ‘consent order’ for the court. Such an order finalises matters and makes them legally binding.

Remember, mediation is not legally binding so either person may change their mind; a court order is legally binding.

All Issues Mediation

AIM is a combination of the Child Issues and Finance & Property Issues mediation detailed above.