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Family’s are deeply affected by divorce or separation, especially when there are children in the family. Often these painful situations can be helped with the supportof a mediator who will hold a  Mediation Information Assessment Meeting or MIAM. A MIAM can guide communication and set the tone for the goals of mediation.

When attending a court proceeding on the matter, the family will need to present an FM1 (Family Mediation 1 form) which confirms that a MIAM has been held.

As of April 2014, significant changes were made to the judicial system regarding separation and divorces, particularly where children were involved. These changes ensure that the welfare of the children is paramount, with minimal impact on the children and as little negativity as possible. One of the major changes was a requirement for a mediation session or MIAM to be attended before any court proceedings to do with financial or custody matters (hence the need for a FM1 to be produced).

If the split is acrimonious and both parties find it difficult to be in the same room, as would happen with face to face mediation, it is possible to ask for shuttle mediation.

Shuttle sessions happen when the two parties are seated in separate rooms either virtually or physically and the mediator shuttles between the two, discussing issues and offering solutions.

Shuttle mediation is often a good solution with distance between the parties allowing for rational and reasoned thinking.

MIAMS Essex Mediators can also help with will disputes: resolving issues between and coming to an acceptable compromise to the conflict that arises as a result of separation.