“Can something this good really be free?”
In this brief section we simply wish to highlight one message above any other- 100’s of couples every month are sorting out their own divorce issues in mediation AND for many of these people it will not cost them a penny because they qualify for Legal Aid.
The cynics might conclude that removing Legal Aid for legal advice and support from Solicitors while retaining it for those who mediate has been done to save the tax payer millions of pounds.
The idealist might say that it has been done to encourage divorcing couples to take responsibility for reaching their own agreements and sorting out their own divorce issues, albeit with the help of a Mediator.
The truth probably lies somewhere between the two arguments.
Whatever the arguments, the bottom line is that free mediation is still available for those who qualify for it, for whom mediation is suitable and who decide to take advantage of this.
If you were not aware that legal aid still exists for family mediation you will definitely be surprise to learn that as long as you receive income of less than £31,884 a year before tax (@ April 2021) and own less than £308,000 in terms of property and savings, which are in dispute, you could be eligible for Legal Aid for Family Mediation.
So, our message is loud and clear; Check online at www.legal-aid-checker.justice.gov.uk/ or contact an accredited family mediator who has a contract to offer Legal Aid, to find out whether you are likely to qualify for legal aid and then work with the mediator and your former partner in mediation to sort out your finances and child arrangements.
You will also find a much more detailed written guide about legal aid in the document section of chapter 2.
Occasionally, the Government offers other incentives to separating couples to separate such as a non-means tested ‘Voucher scheme’ (April 2021) offering separating couples the first £500 off their mediation bill so please ask our mediator whether any financial support is available.
Let us now turn to the sections and videos which attempt to answer the question: What do mediators do and what is mediation?