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Pension Offsetting in Divorce: Advantages and Disadvantages
When couples separate, dividing finances can be one of the most complex parts of the process. Alongside property, savings and income, pensions are often among the most…
Read articleTo mediate or to go to court?
When families separate, disagreements about children, finances or property can quickly become stressful and emotionally draining. Many people assume that going to court is…
Read articleIs civil mediation still voluntary? The Court of Appeal's decision in Churchill v Merthyr Tydvil
For many years, mediation in England and Wales was described as a voluntary process. Courts strongly encouraged parties to mediate, but the prevailing understanding after…
Read articleChild Maintenance in high income cases - the Mostyn Formula
When it comes to determining child maintenance in high-income cases, the standard framework provided by the Child Maintenance Service CMS in England and Wales can fall short.…
Read articleHybrid Mediation
Hybrid mediation is an increasingly important development in family dispute resolution in the UK, offering a flexible and effective alternative to traditional family…
Read articleOptions for property on divorce - the Mesher Order
Mesher Orders, named after the case Mesher v Mesher and Hall 1973, are a type of court order frequently used in family law to deal with the family home during divorce or…
Read articleShuttle Mediation: A Balanced Look
Shuttle mediation is an increasingly popular method of dispute resolution, particularly in family and civil matters. Unlike traditional mediation, where parties meet…
Read articleUnderstanding Child Maintenance: A Guide for Parents
Child maintenance is a crucial part of ensuring children receive the financial support they need when their parents are separated. In essence, it is a reasonable contribution…
Read articleThe Importance of a Pensions Expert in Divorce Settlements
Divorce can be a complex and emotionally charged process, with financial settlements often being one of the most contentious aspects. Among these financial considerations,…
Read articleThe Benefits of Child-Inclusive Mediation
In family disputes, particularly those involving separation or divorce, children are often the silent sufferers. Decisions made by parents have profound and lasting effects…
Read articleUnderstanding Property Rights for Unmarried Couples in the UK
For many couples in the UK, marriage is not their preferred choice when it comes to building a life together. According to recent statistics, the number of unmarried couples…
Read articleShared Parenting at Christmas: Making the Season Bright for Everyone
Christmas is a magical time especially for children, filled with joy, anticipation and cherished traditions. For families navigating shared parenting, however, it can also…
Read articleJudicial Separation: an Overview
Judicial separation is a lesser-known legal process that allows married couples to live separately and independently without ending their marriage and it is something that we…
Read articleDo I still have to pay Child Maintenance if we have Shared Care?
When parents separate, child maintenance is a key issue that needs to be addressed, even in shared care situations. But what happens when you split care equally-do you still…
Read articleThe Role and Importance of Workplace Mediation
Workplace mediation is an increasingly recognized method for resolving conflicts and disputes between employees in a constructive and non-confrontational manner. It serves as…
Read articleThe No Order Principle in UK Family Law: Prioritising Minimal Intervention
In family law, the well-being of a child is always the court’s paramount concern and is also top of the agenda in mediation. However, when it comes to making decisions about…
Read articleUnderstanding "Lives With" and "Shared Lives With" Orders for Children
When parents separate or when a child’s welfare is at risk, determining where and with whom the child should live becomes a crucial decision. In the UK, the legal framework…
Read articleUnderstanding the Family Mediation Process
Family disputes can be emotionally draining, and finding a resolution that satisfies everyone involved is often challenging but Hampshire Mediation is here to help. Since its…
Read articleFinancial Settlements for Unmarried Couples in the UK
In the UK, the financial settlement for unmarried couples poses a unique set of challenges compared to those faced by married couples and is something which we often talk…
Read articleNon-Court Dispute Resolution in Family Law
Family disputes can be incredibly challenging, particularly when they involve issues such as divorce, child custody, and financial settlements. In the UK, non-court dispute…
Read articleThe Art of Coparenting: Navigating Parenthood Together
In an ideal world, families stay together navigating life's ups and downs under one roof. However, reality often results in a different outcome with many parents finding…
Read articleThe Importance of Attending a MIAM
In family law and dispute resolution, a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting MIAM holds significant importance. A MIAM is an individual preliminary meeting to explore…
Read articleIntroducing your children to your new partner
Introducing your children to a new partner is a significant step that requires careful consideration and is often the subject of discussion in family mediation. The timing…
Read articleMediation Voucher Scheme
The Mediation Voucher Scheme is an innovative initiative designed to facilitate alternative dispute resolution ADR by providing financial support for families undergoing…
Read articleThe voluntary nature of mediation
Mediation is a voluntary process by nature, which fundamentally distinguishes it from other forms of dispute resolution such as litigation or arbitration. The voluntary…
Read articleFinancial Disclosure in Divorce in the UK: A Critical Process
Financial disclosure is a pivotal aspect of the divorce process in the UK, ensuring fair and equitable settlements between parties. It involves both parties providing a…
Read articleFinancial questions following divorce or the end of a civil partnership - spousal maintenance and clean break settlements
At the end of a marriage or civil partnership, one of the things that have to be looked at is how financial questions are to be addressed. Typically, this will include…
Read articleChild arrangements and COVID-19
The President of the Family Division has issued the following guidance for parents deciding on child arrangements during the COVID pandemic. 1. Parental responsibility for a…
Read articleFamily mediation by Skype
Why would we need to conduct family mediation by Skype? I don't think anyone would argue with the assertion that in any mediation, by far the best way of doing things is to…
Read articleViolence and domestic abuse – the need for safeguarding in family mediation
Whilst at Hampshire Mediation we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to take part in family mediation, nothing is more important than the safety of the…
Read articleMediation – who can attend family mediation sessions and civil mediation sessions?
Who will be at a mediation session can be a source of uncertainty and distress at a time when a participant who is preparing for mediation – be it family mediation or…
Read articleWorkplace Mediation
Why do we need workplace mediation? An organisation's employees are vital to its success, whether that success is measured in goods sold in a shop or the quality of education…
Read articleWhy do People Choose Family Mediation?
Between July 2011 and September 2014 a team at Exeter Universityhttp://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/law/research/frs/about/ conducted a detailed study of the state of the most…
Read articleChildren and Family Mediation
During the traumatic times that inevitably accompany the end of a relationship, it is very easy for the adults involved to forget that they are not alone in facing…
Read articleFamily mediation in England and Wales - its origins and development
Mediation - resolving problems with the help of an impartial third party - is as old as the hills and can be traced back to the teaching of Confucius in the fifth century BC…
Read articleDivorce, family mediation and the division of assets
We are often asked in family mediation sessions what an individual is entitled to in terms of the financial settlement, but there is no easy answer to that question. When…
Read articleFamily Mediation and high conflict divorce
A few months ago there was a fair amount of mirth around at the 'conscious uncoupling' that Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow were said to be undergoing. It seems that…
Read articleBullying in the Workplace - the role of Mediation in addressing the problem
Although bullying in the workplace can be traumatising, it’s an issue which can be fixed and doesn’t have to affect you, or the company when properly addressed. Bullying in…
Read articleMediation - A User's Guide
Hampshire Mediation is proud to announce the publication of our ebook on what individuals can expect from the mediation process. You can see the book…
Read articleFamily mediation - Changes to the Rules
On the 22nd of April the law concerning divorce underwent what was probably the greatest change in a generation. On that day most of the provisions of the Children and…
Read articleTo Litigate or Mediate? Pros and cons of going to court, or going to mediation
In this short article we intend to expose some of the relative advantages and disadvantages of litigation and mediation in the context of civil disputes. At Hampshire…
Read articleChanges in Divorce Law - New Zealand and UK
The New Zealand Ministry of Justice are shortly to cut their family courts' involvement in divorce by up to 40%. New Zealand has set up a new mediation service to deal with…
Read articleSo, what is mediation?
What is mediation? A good question, and one which a significant proportion of the people who ring Hampshire Mediation have some misconceptions about. Some people approach us…
Read articleDivorce - Property, Children and Finance in Family Mediaiton
The courts take an approach to divorce which is often not very helpful and doesn't sit well with the way in which separating couples approach the issues that they are…
Read articleLitigation, Mediation or another form of Alternative Dispute Resolution? The Options
When people become involved in a dispute there are a number of options for resolution from which they can choose. They can litigate their dispute, or they can elect to use a…
Read articleDebunking the Mediation Myths - Is Civil Mediation Legally Binding?
It is a commonly held misconception that mediation agreements, also referred to as mediation settlements, are not legally binding. That is not the case. A mediation…
Read articleThere are no winners and losers in Mediation
There is commonly held misconception about mediation and that, like a trial, it results in winners and losers. This simply is not the case. Mediation is about finding new and…
Read articleGovernment to make family mediation mandatory
Simon Hughes, the newly appointed Justice Minister, has put his support behind the Government's plans to make family mediation mandatory for any couple going through the divorce process.
Read articleFamily Mediation, Family Conflict and the Effect on Children
That line of argument seems instinctively to have more than a grain of truth about it. We have always been led to believe that the best position for any child to be in is one…
Read articleA Handbook for Litigants in Person - the place for Mediation
In March 2013 a number of very senior and well respected Circuit Judges produced a book entitled A Handbook for Litigants in…
Read articleThe penalties for refusing mediation, or caveat litigator!
The Civil Procedure Ruleshttp://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil which lay down the processes and procedures governing civil actions in England and Wales have…
Read articleMediation - A User's Guide
As you approach mediation you may be feeling nervous. Almost everyone who approaches mediation feels the same way, and it is perfectly understandable. At Hampshire Mediation…
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