24 Family Mediation

1. Introduction

2. What is mediation?

3. Who can use mediation?

4. What can I use mediation for?

5. At what stage can I use mediation?

6. What if my partner is violent or threatening?

7. What if I don´t use mediation?

8. Do I still need a solicitor if I use mediation?

9. Is mediation the same as counselling?

10. What happens in mediation?

11. Is mediation confidential?

12. How long does mediation take?

13. What happens at the end of mediation?

14. How much does mediation cost?

15. How do I find a mediator?

16. Further help

Community Legal Advice
Provides free information direct to the public on a range of common legal problems.

Call 0845 345 4 345

If you qualify for legal aid, get free advice from a specialist legal adviser about benefits and tax credits, debt, education, employment or housing. Also find a high quality local legal adviser or solicitor.

Click www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk

Find a high quality local legal adviser or solicitor, link to other online information and see if you qualify for legal aid using our calculator.

Organisations that can provide details of family mediators in your area:

Family Mediation Telephone Helpline
phone: 0845 60 26 627
website: www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk

UK College of Family Mediators
phone: 0117 904 7223
website: www.ukcfm.co.uk

Family Mediators’ Association
phone: 0808 200 0033
website: www.fmassoc.co.uk

The Law Society
phone: 0870 606 2555
website: www.lawsociety.org.uk

National Family Mediation
phone: 01392 271610
website: www.nfm.org.uk

Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association)
phone: 01689 820272
website: www.resolution.org.uk

For help and advice if your partner is violent towards you or your children
National Domestic Violence Helpline run in partnership by Women’s Aid and Refuge
phone: 0808 2000 247
websites: www.womensaid.org.uk and www.refuge.org.uk

The Community Legal Service
The Community Legal Service has been set up to help you find the right legal information and advice to solve your problems.

You can get help through a national network of organisations including Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres, many independent advice centres and thousands of high street solicitors. All of these services meet quality standards set by the Legal Services Commission. Look for the Community Legal Service logo, shown below:

Many of the organisations offer some or all of their services for free. If you cannot afford to pay for advice you may be eligible for financial support through the Community Legal Service Fund (Legal Aid). You can order leaflets about funding from the LSC Leaflet line on 0845 3000 343. You can also use a Legal Aid eligibility calculator on the website: www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk

The Legal Services Commission (LSC)
The Community Legal Service and the Community Legal Service Fund are managed by the Legal Services Commission. To find out more about us visit our website at www.legalservices.gov.uk or find the details for your local Legal Services Commission office in the phone book.

17. About this leaflet

This leaflet is published by the Legal Services Commission (LSC).

Leaflet Version: August 2008

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