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We are passionate about resolving family issues through negotiation, conciliation or by application to the courts.
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We work tirelessly to ensure that our clients are protected and safe at all times and strive to achieve the best possible outcomes.
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Family Law can be highly sensitive and you need advice you can trust.
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We aim to help you with all family law matters and make an effort to keep proceedings as smooth as possible for our clients.
Bringing Families Together
Resolution and mediation are key to our work and our team of dedicated lawyers are passionate about assisting you.
Family Solicitor
The area of Family Law can be both highly sensitive and you need advice you can trust
Who is Family Mediation For?
Who is Family Mediation for?
Family mediation is primarily for couples who are separating, divorcing or who are dissolving a Civil Partnership as well as couples who have lived together (co-habited) without entering into a formal arrangement such as marriage or a co-habiting agreement.
In some cases, family mediation may also be available to people who may never have lived together. For example, if they have a child together but were never in a relationship and there are issues over child care and support.
It is possible for people who are getting Divorced or dissolving a Civil Partnership to seek family mediation on their own over issues with a partner or ex-partner. In these cases the Mediator will contact their partner to ask if they will agree to attend family mediation meetings in the future. If the partner agrees, then it is possible to have family mediations sessions alone to discuss issues.
It is also possible for other family members to attend family mediation, for example, any child of the relationship who may wish to be involved in decisions about where they live and which parent they live with on a day-to-day basis.
It is also possible for grandparents to attend family mediations sessions. For example, if they might be involved in caring for the children or have a financial interest in the family’s property.
In some cases, family mediators may also be able to help where there has been family breakdown and a young person has left home and is homeless.
Family mediation might not always be suitable for some people, however and for a number of circumstances, including:
- If one partner has made an allegation of domestic violence and this is being investigated by the police
- If one partner has been declared bankrupt
- Cases of spouse abandonment where the whereabouts of the missing party are not known
- If one party refuses to attend family mediation meetings.
The court will require evidence that family mediation has been considered in a case, even if it is deemed not suitable a C100 form is completed to show this before a court hearing can take place.
For more information about Family Mediation and an initial assessment, call Duncan Lewis Divorce Solicitors in confidence on 033 3772 0409.