Family Mediation Solicitors

At Stephen Rimmer, our family law team includes qualified mediators who are trained to help you resolve disputes that have arisen in your family. With us by your side, you have the best possible chance of finding a fair, positive resolution and avoiding court proceedings which can be daunting and distressing, particularly for any children involved.

We understand that deciding to divorce or separate is a daunting step to take, even if there is no question about whether it is necessary for your happiness. There are so many threads to untangle which can feel impossible if you find it difficult to communicate with your former partner. This is where mediation can help.

How we can help you with family mediation

Our mediators are neutral third parties who can help you and your former partner take a step back and approach family law issues calmly and constructively. Our role is not to push you into an agreement or judge your situation; we will work with you and your former partner to make informed decisions about matters such as:

• What should happen to the family home
• Where you and your former partner will live
• How bills such as the mortgage or rent should be paid going forward
• How debts, such as credit card debt and loans, should be maintained
• Where children should live (often referred to as ‘residence’)
• How much time they should spend with each parent (often referred to as ‘contact’)
• Key questions about the children’s upbringing, such as where they should go to school and whether they should change their surname
• Child maintenance payments and spousal maintenance payments

If you are able to come to find a resolution, you can make your agreement legally binding by applying to court to turn it into a Consent Order. This means that you can enforce your agreement in court if your former partner does not stick to it (although in our experience, agreements made during mediation tend to be strong as both parties have worked through their issues together).

Why choose our family mediation solicitors?

Our family law team are members of Resolution, demonstrating our commitment to helping families find positive and constructive resolutions to disputes and minimising the need for court wherever possible. 

Book a free 30-minute consultation with our family mediation solicitors in Eastbourne

We offer a free, no obligation 30-minute chat with one of our specialist family mediation lawyers to all new clients.

To arrange your initial consultation, you can:

• Call: 01323 434415
• Email: enquiries@stephenrimmer.com
• Or pay us a visit at 28 – 30 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne BN21 4PX

Our mediation services

The mediation process

We will talk you through the mediation process so you will know exactly what to expect. Typically, mediation works as follows:

• If discussing finances, before the process starts you will usually need to complete a financial disclosure form with information about your income, financial resources, debts and needs
• You will attend a meeting or series of meetings (usually more than one is necessary to properly sort through all the issues) with your former partner and your mediator
• If you and your former partner struggle to communicate directly, you can sit in separate rooms and the mediator will go back and forth between you
• The mediator will not provide legal advice but they will:
  • Listen to your thoughts and feelings
  • Facilitate and guide your discussions
  • Defuse any conflict
  • Make practical suggestions
• If you have children, the mediator may also talk to them if you are happy for them to do so
• At the end of mediation, if you are able to come to an agreement, the mediator will write a document called a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’. This can be turned into a legally binding document called a ‘Consent Order’ by applying to court
• If you cannot reach an agreement with your former partner, your family law solicitor can advise you on what to do next – this may involve applying to court

MIAMS

As well as full mediation sessions, we can also provide Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMS). A MIAM is a meeting that assesses whether mediation is right for you and your family.

If you have not already gone through mediation, you must attend a MIAM before applying to court in respect of financial and children related matters upon separation. At the session, your mediator will provide you with a certificate that you should attach to your court application to prove you have attended. You can attend a MIAM even if your former partner refuses.

Our flexible family mediation pricing

One of the many reasons mediation is popular amongst separating couples is that it tends to be quicker and cheaper than going to court.

We believe that families deserve the highest quality of legal advice for an accessible and proportionate price. Wherever possible, we will agree a price in advance for your matter so you can move forward knowing exactly how much the mediation process will cost. If complexities do arise down the line, we will always discuss additional costs with you before incurring them.

Speak to our specialist family mediation solicitors in Eastbourne and Hastings

From our offices in Eastbourne, our family mediation solicitors work with clients all across East Sussex, including in Hastings, Bexhill-on-Sea, Hailsham, Polegate, Battle, Pevensey and St Leonards-on-Sea.

To arrange a free, no obligation 30-minute interview with our team, you can:

• Call: 01323 434415
• Email: enquiries@stephenrimmer.com
• Or pay us a visit at 28 – 30 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne BN21 4PX