We work with parents to help them reach agreement on the arrangements for their children. Parents might have different views on how much time the children should spend with each of them. There might be concerns about the children spending time away from them, or concerns about the other parent’s care of the children. There might be practical reasons why an agreement has not been reached. We explore these concerns and issues with parents to help understanding and communication, we look at how concerns might be addressed, and we look at the different options available and how these would work for the children and parents. We always want to keep the children at the forefront, focusing on what the impact of what is being discussed might be on them.

Sometimes parents come to mediation because there are specific issues that need to be considered, such as one parent proposing to move to a different area, or one parent feeling it would be best for the children to change schools.

It can often be helpful for children to have an opportunity to speak to a mediator, to express how they feel about things. This can take place if both parents agree, and a separate mediator, recommended by Carrie, would speak to the children. That mediator will feedback only what the children have agreed they can feedback. This is called child inclusive mediation, and it sends what can be a very important message to the children; that their parents care about what they think about things.

We work with people who wish to get divorced, but need some help agreeing when and how this should happen. We can provide information on the process and the options, and how the divorce process fits in with making financial arrangements.

When couples are getting divorced, there are often finances to be divided, and we help divorcing couples to make these decisions. They might be around what will happen to the house, where people are going to live, how everything will be paid for, what will happen to a business, how much child maintenance might be paid, whether and if so how pensions should be shared, and more. We ask our clients to provide details of all of their financial circumstances so we know what needs to be considered, and then we look at different options and how they work for each person and their children, if our clients have children.

Sometimes when unmarried couples separate there are questions as to whether and if so how property should be shared. Sometimes property is in joint names and there are questions as to how the equity should be divided. Sometimes a property is one person’s name only, but the other person feels it would be fair for them to receive a share because, for example, they have contributed financially to that property. In other circumstances, one parent might feel that the other parent should provide them with a property for the children to live in while they are living with them. We help couples communicate their views to each other and look at the options available.