This gives participants the opportunity to extend a positive message to their child(ren), with a personally tailored invitation offering them a voice within the mediation, but in a clear background of no pressure and no weight upon them, as it is explained that they are not the decision makers within the process but gives the child(ren) the reassurance of being heard.
Any child inclusive mediation is conducted with the child separately to the participants, upon full parental consent, and feedback will be given separately to the participants.
This often enables participants within the mediation to reflect differently, or become aware of issues or potential solutions that may otherwise not have been considered, make decisions that are informed, with professional assistance and guidance throughout.
At the end of the process, the Mediator can draw up any proposals and you will be recommended to take these to your solicitor who will advise you on those proposals and draft them into a legally binding agreement, if appropriate.
The decisions remain yours, but the Mediator will seek to help you with your decisions, without urging you in one direction or another. This is where mediation is often much better than Court, where ultimately a Judge may decide things for you and it enables you to also address issues that may otherwise not have been considered in the Court process.
In these difficult times it is generally better if both of you can sort out together the practical arrangements for the future.
You are going to be parents for a long time, so being able to take the time to focus on the children’s needs and approach that as co-parents can be a huge benefit. Mediation offers the opportunity to do that, where it may not have been available in a more informal setting, whilst working on and maintaining a level of working communication and a tool kit for the future.
To find out more about Child Inclusive Mediation or Mediation Generally, please feel free to contact us.
