Family Mediation Blog

Written by Sally Clarke, FMA board Secretary

by Philippa Johnson, Chair of The FMA

In the middle of what may be the most difficult time in your life, it can be very difficult to know where to go for help. Just at the time when you need more support than you have ever needed before, you don’t know who to ask or how you are going to afford to pay for expert professional guidance.

The court wants you to think about these things first:

Early and late sittings will be piloted in civil and family courts, giving people greater access to hearings that can fit around their busy lives.

Published 16 November 2018

HM Courts & Tribunals Service, Ministry of Justice, and Lucy Frazer QC MP

The stress of applying for a divorce could be eased thanks to a new online service that removes the need for paper forms.

Published 6 May 2018

HM Courts & Tribunals Service, Ministry of Justice, and Lucy Frazer QC MP

Gary's blog discusses how parental behaviours are used to disrrupt their children's lives and suggests strategies for dealing with that.

When Children Become Pawns in the Parental Custody Dispute

Some issues between separated parents are unimaginable. I have heard stories of children coached to call the other parent names; to misbehave; to not eat their food; to be mean to step-siblings. Indeed, over the years, I have interviewed children who have told me that and worse.

Some parents in a bid to curry favor with their child will actually let them eat junk food as they want; miss school; stay out late; use drugs or drink alcohol or otherwise do as they wish just to make the reasonable parenting of the other parent seem inappropriate.

Todays' theme is 'Accenrtuate the Positive' and below you'll find a mediation version of the popular song.

Mediation ... the Positive Choice

‘Mediation is an empowering process for the children, and it can lead to their parents making more informed and suitable decisions for the future’.

This simple statement by an experienced mediator has been strongly endorsed by children and young people who have experienced their parents’ separation.

The British Justice System is in more trouble than the NHS – what you need to know

Family mediator Mary Banham Hall is releasing a petition today, which argues that mediation should be compulsory after the legal fees reach 20% of the value of the disputed sum. Mary has kindly written our second blog for the day, explaining what her petition is seeking to achieve. It is being published on the Family Mediation Week website this morning and will be published on the FMA’s website this afternoon. Mary Banham Hall’s campaign blog