Wealden Times | WT179 | January 2017 | Health & Beauty supplement inside

Balancing Act
There’s no escaping the sad fact that the start of the New Year heralds an increase in family
break-ups. Many couples considering separation or divorce are under the impression that it
is inevitable they will end up in court and, unfortunately, each year families are left divided.
Here, Wealden Times explores the options with three legal experts and finds out that there
is a way to avoid the costly and emotionally damaging court battles – mediation.
Alan Green
Head of Family Department at
Kingsfords Solicitors
What if I have suffered domestic violence?
Will I still be able to mediate?
When a referral is made to a mediator the Referral Form
will generally ask for information about any domestic
violence/abuse in the relationship. When the mediator
contacts the parties they will discuss this issue with them.
A decision about the mediation process can be made at this
time if the domestic violence/abuse is very bad. If not, at
the initial MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment
Meeting) appointment the mediator will further consider
the issue of domestic violence/abuse. If the mediator
believes mediation is inappropriate, due to the domestic
violence/abuse then the mediation process will come to
an end at this point. If the mediator believes the process
can continue, with adequate steps being taken to protect
the victim of abuse, then mediation can continue.
Do we have to sit in the same room as each other?
Generally, both parties will sit in the same room with
the mediator. Normally, nobody else is allowed in the
143 wealdentimes.co.uk