Financial mediation provides a better way of sorting out financial issues with your ex-partner using the help of a third-party independent person – a mediator. Family Matters has a range of knowledgeable professional mediators from diverse backgrounds, a real strength in the practice as it means we can offer the mediator with the best skills and knowledge for your case.
Agreement can be reached about property, savings, pensions and investments without having to go to court and allow a judge to make those decisions for you. You are in control of those decisions. Financial mediation can be quicker and cheaper than going to court.
An application to court for a financial order cannot be made unless you have attended a MIAM (mediation information and assessment meeting). We can carry out those MIAMs and talk to you about the opportunities mediation offers. We aim to help you to reach a workable agreement about finances and property – an agreement that you are more likely to stick to – following separation or divorce.
Our mediators are trained professionals who can give you information about the issues surrounding your finances. For example, they can help you to understand the effect of debts, the various pension options, house valuations and how to share savings and investments. They can provide information about the potential capital gains implications of financial options where there is more than one property.
Family Matters has a range of mediators able to offer specialist financial mediations.
Lesley Dudleston deals with high value cases involving businesses and multiple properties. Lesley qualified as a mediator intending to specialise in children issues but found she enjoyed the complexities of financial mediation much more and specialised in this area.
Her clients value her expertise and say she is:
“Clear thinking and patient, able to help clients navigate the complexities of reaching financial settlement in cases where there are significant assets.”
Rachel Renwick initially trained as a solicitor but decided that mediation offered a better way of working with couples after separation. Rachel’s clients describe her as:
“A really good mediator. I came in thinking I just wanted the court form, but we managed to agree all the arrangements and took the documents Rachel gave us to a solicitor for them to prepare a consent order.”
Rachel also deals with high value matters and has successfully mediated cases where the family assets are in excess of £5,000,000. Rachel says:
“Family financial assets are hard earned and have real meaning to families, whether they are in the hundreds or larger sums. At the moment, separating couples are worried about mortgages, house prices and the cost-of-living crisis. In mediation we can talk about how the various options could work and discuss which are the most viable and practical way forward.”
Juliette Dalrymple, director at Family Matters says:
“Our mediators have extensive experience of dealing with varied financial issues. At Family Matters we are committed to providing the transparent and understandable information you need to make decisions about your future financial arrangements. We understand that by coming to mediation you are making decisions for now and for the future.
Find out our mediators Rebecca Kershaw and Lorraine MacNay next month.
