Child Arrangements Mediation
Deciding arrangements for your children with an ex-partner can be challenging. Differences can arise over when children spend time with each parent, holiday plans, birthdays, school choices and many other topics. Such situations can be really emotionally and practically difficult to navigate, and productive communication can become hard or break down altogether.
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Child Arrangements Mediation is a supportive service that helps parents work through these challenges and reach agreements that prioritise their children’s needs. Online Mediation specialises in mediation about children and has successfully assisted countless parents in reaching amicable agreements. Our compassionate and experienced mediators are here to guide you through the process over video calls and emails, offering support every step of the way.
We’ll start by meeting you for an individual session (often called a ‘MIAM’). During this confidential session, we’ll understand your aims and advise on all options. Your mediator will also conduct an assessment to check mediation is safe and appropriate in your circumstances. We will then contact your ex-partner to start discussions. The individual meeting costs £95 (there’s no VAT to add to any of our prices). For further meetings we’ll access the government’s Mediation Voucher funding. This is a one-off grant of £500 towards joint mediation session costs. There’s no financial qualifying criteria, and we’ll apply for you after you each have an individual meeting.
Online Mediation offers mediation sessions as a joint conversation, and also as ‘shuttle’ mediation where you do not see or hear your ex. We’ll discuss your options and preferences at your individual meeting, and you can change between joint and shuttle mediation as needed.
We support children to have their voices heard in mediation, and can speak privately with children where age-appropriate (usually age 10 and above) and where agreed by both parents. This is called ‘Child Inclusive Mediation’ and gives children the opportunity to express their views, feelings and suggestions. The £500 Mediation Voucher can be used towards Child Inclusive Mediation.
After the Mediation Voucher has been spent, our standard fee is £120 per person, per hour. This is 14% below the industry average of £140.
Your agreement can be made legally binding. Your mediator can write up your agreement formally, and you are open to submit this to court, if this would be helpful. Your mediator will guide you through all the steps.
If mediation doesn’t resolve all the issues, Family Court is one option we will discuss with you. If you are considering Family Court, they require you attend an individual meeting (often called a ‘MIAM’) before applying. Find out more here.