Family Matters’ director, Juliette Dalrymple, has noticed a growing trend in people coming to mediation who recognise the value of dealing with arrangements about their children and finances in one place – mediation. Reaching agreements in mediation means that parents can come up with imaginative parenting solutions that work for everyone.
All issues mediation helps find solutions that work for all
In one recent case, Family Matters dealt with a family which had teenage children. The parents, with the children, had planned that each parent would look after the children for a week at a time and the changeover would be on the Monday evening after school. After discussion in mediation, they recognised, with the help of the mediator, that the Monday night changeover meant that the children would be disorganised at school for the rest of the week. They agreed that a Friday changeover would be better, giving the opportunity for the children to spend the weekend with one of the parents who would then help them to be organised for school for the rest of the week. This led to a discussion about the fact that this arrangement would affect payment of dinner money and bus fares, but as the amounts were similar, the parents agreed that one of them would take responsibility for dinner money and the other for bus fares.
Increase in solutions resolved using all issues mediation
Juliette says “Family Matters data shows that all issues mediation is on the increase and that between January and September this year, 68% of cases that proceeded to joint mediation reached resolution on some or all of the issues raised. All issues mediation, which involves dealing with children and financial issues together, is a quick and effective way of dealing with problems that arise following family breakdown and can help ensure that the family is properly provided for in agreements which will last. It can also be the most cost effective way of dealing with these issues.”
If you are looking for a cost effective, lasting and family oriented solution, mediation can work for you and your children. Contact us now and we will arrange for you to meet one of our experienced family mediators to talk about your situation.
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