If one of the issues being mediated involves child arrangements, we are pleased to be able to offer you access to the government mediation voucher scheme that allows funding of up to £500 towards a mediation case (i.e. £250 per person). This means that the voucher can also be claimed if you are discussing other…
Having written the original Divorce and Separaton Guide nearly 5 years ago, I knew that an update was overdue and the introduction of the new “no fault divorce” process on 6th April 2022 finally gave me the impetus to ge the update done. I hope that you find the guide helpful if you,…
There has been talk of bringing in a “no fault divorce” process for well over 20 years as it has long been recognised that the current system, which is heavily based upon the need to blame one party, is not fit for purpose and has created unnecessary conflict. As a mediator, I increasingly find myself…
It was an interesting moment when I received the early morning call a few weeks ago from the Danny Pike show on BBC Radio Sussex/Surrey asking whether I would be interested in taking part in a show about whether mediation might be a useful intervention in the Brexit process. Having agreed to take part, I…
For many families, Christmas is one of the most important times of year and there can be a lot of pressure to ensure that everyone in the family, especially the children, has their best ever Christmas. This can lead to problems before, during and after the festive season. For parents who are already separated, it…
Having watched the behemoth of the family law system struggle to cope with the demands of the modern world, with recent budget cuts leaving it poorly funded and far too reliant on adversarial approaches, it never ceases to amaze me just how few people are aware that there are alternative routes to resolving a family…
Having assisted many clients with the mediation process at a number of locations in London over the years, I am please to report that we now have a fixed office location in Central London which is conveniently located next to St Paul’s Cathedral. More information about the office can be found on the London Family…
There is a lot to think about and sort out when you get divorced or separate. It is easy to suggest that the first thing that you should do is to contact a local family mediation but, understandably, you are likely to want to know more about the mediation process, including what mediation is, how…
Far too often, people who are going through divorce or separation believe, or are advised, that mediation is not suitable. We need to change the family law culture so that everyone considers mediation first. Watch the new “Why mediate?…or,,,Why not mediate?” video to find out more. Please watch the first set of videos below to…
Are you going through or considering a separation or divorce? If so, then you should read the new “Divorce and separation guide – there is a better way!” Having spent many years working as a full-time family mediator, during which time I have assisted well over 1,000 people to navigate their way through divorce and…
It is great to see Eagle Radio covering Family Mediation Week: http://www.964eagle.co.uk/news/local-news/2206198/new-scheme-aims-to-help-children-affected-by-their-parents-divorce/ You can also listen to the news podcasts here: First Eagle Radio news podcast Second Eagle Radio news podcast First Eagle Radio news podcast New scheme aims to help children affected by their parent’s divorce 9:24am 24th January 2017 (Updated 9:25am 24th January 2017)…
Family Mediation Week – 23rd to 27th January 2017 Welcome to Family mediation week : 23-27 January 2017 It is that time of year again, when we all wish each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I join this chorus in hoping that you and your family enjoy the…
Mediation first not last! Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that everyone involved in the legal system, ranging from the government to solicitors, should put far more energy than they currently do into encouraging people to mediate rather than litigate when they go through divorce, I have been mediating for long enough to realise that this…
Ever since Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) were introduced in April 2011, there has been a lot of confusion about what they are and when they need to be undertaken. This blog post aims to turn this confusion into clarity, whether you are a solicitor or other advisor who is referring a client to…
Welcome to the “Say yes to mediation” blog, which has been inspired by my experience as a mediator that far too few separating and divorcing couples are aware of the existence of mediation, let alone the many benefits that it can offer. Over the course of the next few months, I will be writing regular…
As a mediator, I spend a lot of time talking to potential clients about whether mediation is the right way forwards for them in their particular situations and this article will hopefully help to address some of the points frequently discussed. One of the key points to consider is that filing for a divorce is…
The Eaves – Counselling and Psychological Services and Godalming Family Mediation Services have joined together to present four short workshops aimed at helping couples in crisis from both an emotional and practical perspective. The four ‘taster’ sessions are 30 minutes and run between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday 28th January 2015. Whether you are a professional who is looking…
2014: a year to remember for mediation This year has been an important year for mediation. Nationally, mediation cases have increased by 49% since the new rules came into force in April requiring couples to consider mediating before any court action is started for the vast majority of family law disputes, and I am pleased…
For anyone who missed the Eagle Radio News story on 29th November 2014 talking about the rise in the use of mediation as part of the National Family Dispute Resolution Week then please click the following link for the podcast including the quote from a client, Helen, who successfully used Godalming Family Mediation:
For anyone who missed the Eagle Radio News story on 29th November 2014 talking about the rise in the use of mediation as part of the National Family Dispute Resolution Week then please click the following link for the podcast including the quote from Euan Davidson, head of mediation at Godalming Family Mediation:
Well done to the Surrey Advertiser for covering the news that the use of mediation has increased by more than 20% since the laws changed in April 2014. Thank you to Helen and Tom Forbes for allowing their story to be told as part of this story. I hope that this will help to encourage a lot more separating…
It is really encouraging to hear Helen giving such positive feedback about the mediation process and recommending that other separating couples mediate. A great big thank you to Helen, and to Tom who also offered to be interviewed, and I hope that this encourages a lot more people to mediate. Please click the link to the…
National Family Dispute Resolution Week: 24th to 28th November 2014 As a mediator who is committed to doing whatever I can to assist couples to stay as far away from courts and legal disputes as possible, I am hopeful that you will already be aware of the third National Family Dispute Resolution Week from 24th…
Great to hear the Eagle Radio advert on the FM station from today, 2nd September 2014.
GodalmingFamilyMediation.EagleRadio
I would welcome feedback!
Many thanks
Euan Davidson
I have the sense that the use of family mediation has yet to become widespread in the Haslemere area and hopefully the latest article in the Life in Haslemere magazine will help to get the message across that mediation should be the first option for the vast majority of divorces. Take control of your divorce:…
29th July 2014 Kitchen Table Diplomacy: is this the secret to a quick divorce? Instinctively, it sounds like a very sensible idea for a separating couple to sit down together at the kitchen table and to try to sort out all of the issues that their separation will cause. In fact, I would go so far…
It is really encouraging to see that the Surrey Lawyer Magazine has chosen to cover the recent family mediation law changes in a double-page story. I hope that this encourages many more solicitors to work together with mediators to promote clients’ best interests. Please see pages 18 to 19 NEW LAW CHANGES PUT FAMILY MEDIATION…
By Euan Davidson 4th July 2014 Choosing a Family Mediator Deciding to mediate can be the best decision that a separating or divorcing couple can make but, in order to maximise the chances that there will be a positive outcome to this decision, it is vitally important that both parties think very carefully about their choice…
By Euan Davidson – please click for more information about the author euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 1st July 2014 Is Family Mediation a threat to Solicitors? As family mediation continues its journey towards becoming a mainstream way to resolve family issues, with the recent law changes that make it compulsory to consider mediation before court action clearly speeding up…
By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 20th May 2014 The Rise of Family Mediation As a mediator, I am finding that more and more people are making enquiries along the lines of “My husband/wife and I have recently separated and we both want to find the most amicable way through the divorce process” and realising that it would…
Well done to Essential Surrey for covering this really important family mediation story. Should save lots of people an awful lot of time, money and stress during divorce https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/kids-schools/divorcing-couples-in-surrey-must-try-mediation/ Divorcing couples in Surrey must try mediation 6 May 2014 Divorcing couples in Surrey ‘must’ try mediation New law means divorcing couples in Surrey must now…
1st May 2014 Euan Davidson Godalming Family mediation Well done to The Guide magazine in Haslemere and The Pepperpot magazine in Godalming for running the story about the mediation law changes. This should really help a lot more people in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire to consider mediation when they are going through a divorce or…
Euan Davidson from Godalming Family Mediation enjoyed the chance to talk about family mediation with Surrey TV, including about the recent law changes and the benefits of mediation. Please see the YouTube video below, which starts at the relevant part.
It is really encouraging to see that Eagle Radio are continuing to cover the very important law changes to the use of family mediation that came in last week. This article covers views from both Euan Davidson at Godalming Family Mediation and Eileen Pereira at Surrey Family and Mediation Services. I am very pleased to see that, as mediators,…
Well done to TheGuide2Surrey for reporting on the changes to the mediation rules this week! New Law Requires Divorcing Couples to Try Mediation Rich Lee 23/04/2014Staff Writer This week a new law was passed that requires divorcing couples to formally consider mediation before going to court… Surrey has one of the highest divorce rates in the…
It is really encouraging to see the mediation coverage on Page 2 of the Surrey Advertiser today.
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Is there such a thing as a good divorce? 4:00pm 22nd April 2014 The government hopes changes to the law surrounding separating couples will make divorce simpler, cheaper and less stressful. Surrey has one of the highest rates for divorce in the country. From today couples will have to formally consider mediation before heading…
I am pleased to see the latest article in The Pepperpot magazine. Hopefully this will encourage people who are facing divorce to think carefully about their options before making any hasty decisions: Beware the quick fix.PepperpotApril2014
It is good to see the latest family mediation article in The Guide for April 2014. Hopefully this will help to encourage the use of family mediation in the Haslemere, Hindhead, Grayshott, Fernhurst, Headley and Headley Down areas. Please see the full article here: The Guide April 2014
By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 19th March 2014 Divorce: beware the quick fix! Over the past few years, there has been a sharp increase in services offering fixed fee packages for divorce, including some that include mediation and the preparation of a legally binding agreement in relation to the finances. These can seem very attractive as…
By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 9th March 2014 I am always more than a little wary about writing posts that might appear to be an attempt to undermine new and exciting developments in the mediation world in order to preserve the status quo. However, I am even more aware of the need to provide a high…
By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 5th March 2014 As a mediator and qualified solicitor, I am all in favour of clients seeking legal advice in parallel with the mediation process and then feeding this advice back into the mediation process so I am certainly not about to claim that lawyers are not useful but it never…
By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 27th February 2014 Today’s Law Commission report (see https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/app/uploads/2015/03/lc343_matrimonial_property.pdf) makes interesting reading for anyone involved in the family law arena as it finally opens up the possibility that pre-nuptial agreements (i.e. financial agreements drawn up before a marriage) might become legally binding if the Government accepts and implements the recommendations of…
By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk One of the most difficult aspects of being a mediator is trying to ensure that you not only remain impartial at all times but that you are seen to be acting impartiality by all the parties involved at all times. Understanding the difference between being impartial and being seem to be impartial…
I am writing a new article to go in the family mediation section of Law Plain and Simple – http://www.lawplainandsimple.com/legal-guides/area/family-mediation – about whether or not family mediation is seen as expensive and it would be really interesting to hear your thoughts about: a) The lowest cost mediation service that I am aware of charges a standard…
Divorce and Family Mediation By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 12th February 2014 One of the biggest obstacles to starting mediation as part of a divorce or separation is the feeling, either directly from one of the parties themselves or following advice from a solicitor, that mediation is not suited to or necessary for a particular situation.…
Should family mediation be compulsory? By Euan Davidson euan@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk 28th January 2014 Please see the Law Plain and Simple website or read the article itself below about whether family mediation should be compulsory before taking legal action. http://www.lawplainandsimple.com/legal-guides/article/should-family-mediation-be-compulsory On 6th April 2011 new rules were introduced by the Government that were meant to ensure that…
Fight, flight or mediate? By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk When I look back at all the people who have entered the mediation process with me over the years, I can see that the primary responses to a breakdown in a relationship tend to be in line with the stereotypical fight or flight responses, with most people…
How to find a good family mediator By Euan Davidson euandavidson@godalmingfamilymediation.co.uk In most cases, making the decision to seek the assistance of a family mediator will prove to be one of the best decisions that a separating or divorcing couple can make. However, in order to maximise the chances that there will be a positive…