Do CAFCASS favour mothers?
Do CAFCASS favour mothers? When parents are divorcing or separating, the issue that often causes most disagreement and argument is how will both parents have the amount of contact with their children that they want? If the parents can’t agree and it is left to the courts to decide, CAFCASS will be asked to produce […]
When do CAFCASS get involved?
When do CAFCASS get involved? If you are in the process of divorcing or separating and finding it difficult to agree child arrangements between you and your ex-partner, you might have heard CAFCASS mentioned. But who are CAFCASS? When do CAFCASS get involved? Is this something I need to be worried about? This article will […]
Do mothers have more rights than fathers?
In short, mothers and fathers have more or less the same rights as each other in principle. When people refer to “rights” in relation to children, they are referring to parental responsibility. Parental responsibility is a legal term that encompasses all the obligations, duties, responsibilities, and powers that a parent has in relation to a […]
What are my options if my child’s mother won’t let me see them?
Divorce proceedings and the aftereffects can be situations of high emotions for separating couples. It is a big decision that is life changing, which often involves high emotions and feelings. Sadly, for some separating couples this can result in acrimonious situations where exes just can’t find a way forward in an amicable way. Whether you […]
Divorce pet custody agreement UK
Custody of pets in separation Direct Mediation Services (DMS) is expert in pet custody agreements in the UK. We have experience mediating on peoples’ dogs and other well-loved animals. We are familiar with the importance of pets to their humans and treat the dilemma of how to care for pets on separation in a sensitive […]
What is spousal maintenance?
Understanding spousal maintenance Married couples, who come to Direct Mediation Services for mediation, are often looking to reach agreements on their finances. Commonly, this will lead to discussions on the family home, on savings, on pensions, and sometimes on spousal maintenance. For many clients, spousal maintenance can seem quite confusing. What is it? Why does […]
CB1 form – Leaflet for making an application to family court
CB1 leaflet – Information on how to make an application to the Family Court The Court and Tribunals Service have created a document that provides information on how to make an application to the Family Court relating to your children. It can be accessed here. It is a useful document that explains the process and […]
Difference between mediation and conciliation
Is mediation the same as conciliation? When faced with a family related dispute, our first reaction will be to resolve the problem ourselves. We might sit down, talk it through, explore ideas, and try and find a way forward. Sometimes this doesn’t work the way we intend, and we find ourselves stuck. We need a […]
Family mediation and same sex couples
Gay men don’t mediate? Stuart Hanson is the managing partner at Direct Mediation Services. He is a winner of one of the National Mediation Awards and has served as a director of The College of Mediators. He is registered as an accredited family mediator and Professional Practice Consultant with the Family Mediation Council. He is […]
MIAM Exemptions
Is mediation compulsory in divorce UK? Since 2014 it is a legal requirement to attend a MIAM Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting before making an application to the Court relating to a family dispute. This is to enable you to at least attempt mediation in the first instance. At your MIAM, your family mediator will […]