Mediation?

[SandrasAnnoyingFriend]

Hi,

Does anyone have experience of using a mediation service to agree the terms of a divorce?

We have a few complicating factors, based on some shares that should come to fruition in a couple of years but I believe we can agree on how to handle them.

We both genuinely want to keep things civil and if this process goes well I believe we can be friends.

I'm just really keen to minimise solicitors involvement and if possible see mediation, with a legal ratification of what we agree to be the most desirable method.

Would love to hear if it's worked for others though

As a solicitor, I would say mediation's success rate is disappointingly low, but it does work sometimes.

Do get legal advice though. Mediation in my view is more likely to succeed if the parties have some idea of what a court might do.

Good luck. Mediation is much faster, cheaper, and less hard on your relationship if you can make it work.

Thank you.

So we should both get independent legal advice first and then come to mediation with an idea as to what we'd be entitled to?

Sounds sensible.

Yep. Or get legal advice once all the disclosure bit is done.

Mediation can work if you are both determined to be amicable with each other. I have helped many clients work out financial settlements and avoid solicitors and expensive litigation. A lot of people are choosing to go down this route now.

You both have to have the right mindset and come to mediation with the view of avoiding court.

Remember it is not a game of win and lose - there has to be an element of compromise

It worked for me - but then there wasn't that much we disagreed on. Our mediator was really good, she really helped me understand what the difference was between what I needed and what I wanted and what was fair. I felt that I needed someone objective to act between us. I think it was worth every penny.