Star Mediation Services offers financial mediation for people who wish to reach an agreement about finances and property. You do not have to be a divorcing couple to use mediation to discuss finances, we also support cohabiting couples. Whilst the legal protection for cohabiting couples differs from married couples, there is still scope to discuss the future of finances at mediation. More and more couples are choosing to cohabit rather than marry. Cohabiting couples may well live like married couples for many years, sharing finances and responsibilities. If you are a separating cohabiting couple, mediation may be able to help you settle your finances going forward and in the future.
The mediation process usually takes between two and four meetings depending upon the complexity of your financial situation. As part of the financial mediation process, both participants must provide full financial disclosure. This means that both parties must declare all finances and assets so that it can be agreed on how these are to be settled following your separation. It is a process where both participants will share with one another details of all of their finances and assets. It is necessary for there to be full and frank disclosure for any of your agreements to be ultimately legally binding. The reason for this is in court, if you are found to have not disclosed all of your finances, or have provided false disclosure, then any Order could either not be made or set aside and proceedings could be taken against you. We will provide you with a financial disclosure booklet which you will need to complete before your first session.
We will usually ask you to give details of your financial situation; this can help you to think more clearly about the future. It is important that you start to collect financial information before your first mediation meeting. After your initial individual meeting, we will send you the Star Mediation Financial Pack, this is a list of the financial documents which you will need for your formal mediation meetings. This will help you to start to put together all your financial information.
Useful information and guidance are available from the Child Maintenance Options website if you wish to reach an agreement about financial support for your children.
The Family Justice Council has issued new guidance for separating couples wishing to reach an agreement about their financial arrangements. Find out more here.
Please reach us at info@starmediationservices.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
You can discuss whatever finances/assets that you may wish to. At mediation, you are in control. The most common things discussed are: The family home, savings, pensions, investments; You may also discuss how you will settle on goods bought for the family home during your relationship, such as furniture and technology
Yes, We can arrange for an independent interpreter or translator for clients who speak little English.
At Star Mediation Services we charge £95 per person per hour. The total amount you can expect to pay varies depending on the number of sessions you attend. Most participants can expect to attend between 2 - 5 sessions to reach an agreement at Mediation.