The government had invested money in a support scheme to help reduce the legal costs of settling child contact issues. It’s called the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme and it aims to help by providing a £800,000 family mediation fund. This fund, set up by the Family Mediation Council and the Ministry of Justice, allows eligible families to apply for up to £500 towards the costs of mediation.
This scheme has now been extended.
You can get access to this scheme through a family lawyer, like Jackson Lees, who can guide you through the steps you need to take to apply.
What is family mediation?
When there’s a dispute over child arrangements, family mediation is the first formal step to be taken. The family court will only consider a case once measures like mediation have been exhausted. So, the family mediation process allows you to resolve disputes, with expert-help and avoid the expense and stress of court.
The mediator will help you to listen and understand each other’s concerns through a structured process. They provide guidance to help to channel discussion towards a productive outcome, avoiding digression & blame. Early mediation can reconcile an argument before it deteriorates into more entrenched positions. If a level of agreement can be achieved, this also helps with the welfare of the children.
How does the scheme work?
To start the process, you’ll need to speak to a mediator. This can be arranged through Jackson Lees who have a list of qualified mediators from across the North-West.
How do I apply for a voucher?
The mediator will organise an initial assessment to understand your circumstances and will then be able to tell you if you are eligible. When eligibility is confirmed, the mediator will make the application for you and tell you what happens next.
Who qualifies for the scheme?
The main condition for scheme qualification is that the dispute concerns a child. You will need to explain to your advisor that you wish to apply for the scheme, and they will do the rest for you.
The qualification period is time-limited and there is only a finite amount of money available. This means that a limited number of families will be able to benefit from this scheme. So, if you think mediation could help resolve your child contact issues, or other arrangements for children, then you should contact us and declare your intention to take part in the new scheme as soon as possible.
What if mediation doesn’t work?
There are two other steps you can take, in the event that you are unable to arrive at an agreement despite mediation; Arbitration and then you can also (as a last resort) go to Court. We can help with both of these if required.
What should I do next?
Because the scheme is running for a limited amount of time and the pot of financial support is also limited, we advise that you speak to us as soon as possible. If you don’t take advantage of this now, then you may lose the opportunity to gain help with the costs of mediation.
Find out what you can do next by arranging a call with us on 0808 302 3464 or make an enquiry.