Children 1st Mediation - Plymouth Mediation for Separated Parents

Our team of Professionally qualified Family Mediators have over 80 years collective experience in Mediation, so you can be sure you're getting the best service. We believe in you retaining the decision making between you.

What is mediation?

Family mediation is a way of resolving disputes that arise before, during, or after separation or divorce. It can also be helpful to avoid problems arising.

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process that gives you both the chance to discuss your issues, hopes, concerns, and needs with each other in the presence of a qualified family mediator.

Family mediation provides a safe environment, helping to reduce hostility and improve the chances of long-term positive communication. The family mediator does not advise people what to do, give them legal advice, take sides, or provide counselling.

Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs)

A MIAM is the first step in the family mediation process; it is a meeting with the mediator who will be working with you at Children's 1st Family Mediation.

Divorce is a stressful process, and the first step in resolving things between you and your ex-partner when you aren't able to reach an agreement between yourselves is to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings, often referred to as a MIAM.

If you are going to take your case to court, it is a legal requirement in most cases to have attended a MIAM. The other person named in the divorce is also expected to attend, but this won't be the same meeting as yours.

A MIAM must be conducted by a mediator who is accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). All of our mediators have many years of experience, and all have the necessary professional memberships and qualifications to sign the required forms for court should mediation not be suitable or breakdown.

Divorce  and financial mediation

Divorcing? Separating? Need to sort out financial issues such as property, pensions, assets, and debts? We help you reach mutually acceptable agreements.

Family Mediation can help you reach a settlement with your finances, including property, pensions, assets and any debts

Getting a divorce through mediation offers a positive opportunity to resolve things amicably. Mediation enables both of you to sit down with a neutral third party to resolve the issues in and around their divorce. The Mediator can help you explore ways in which to unravel the financial connection between you while providing an opportunity to look at the full financial information, explore different options together, test the reality of your proposals, and assist you in trying to find a way forward that works for everyone.

This can include helping you decide together how to best settle any debts, deal with outstanding bills, consider your current or short-term housing needs, as well as long-term planning for the future. This can be done simply and without long delays. If you want to legally separate, Children's 1st Mediation can help you achieve this.

Children arrangements

We help parents or carers focus on their children's ongoing needs, helping them reach well-informed decisions that are practical and seem fair.

What happens after mediation?

For children-only cases, the mediator will, upon request, provide a summary letter detailing any agreements reached. If you require a parenting plan drafted, this will be discussed with you at the mediation appointment.

Following the last financial cases, the mediator will produce an open financial statement that will be used as your financial disclosure in any divorce proceedings. This document is open and will need to be signed by each of you. The mediator will also draft a memorandum of understanding or summary letter, depending on your needs, setting out any proposals or agreements reached during the mediation.

Our head office is located in Plymouth, but we have trained and qualified mediators working remotely with clients across the country. Most of our mediation is done online now, usually on Zoom. However, we do occasionally do face-to-face mediation when the need arises.

To find out more about how we can help you, please get in touch.

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