If you would like to know more about LDFM, how it works and how it might be
applicable to your situation then please contact us on 0800 038 5900 and we
will be pleased to arrange a meeting for you with one of our mediators.
The first step is for you to come to an Intake appointment. We do our very best to arrange appointments within a week of referals. This is a session
that lasts for between 45 mins to an hour and is designed to give you information
about mediation, the process and which issues we could look at in your circumstances.
You may like to come along to this meeting on your own, or with your former
partner, whichever you feel most comfortable with.
If you and your former partner decide that you would like to try mediation,
we ask you to sign a mediation contract which simply sets out the terms of
the mediation process.
The mediation usually consists of a number of sessions lasting for about an
hour each. Sometimes only one mediation session is needed to reach an agreement;
If many issues need to be discussed then sometimes a series of sessions are
needed. We are flexible in the mediation models that we use – you may
prefer to deal with issues in one time-limited session with your legal advisers
present.
We will help you during the mediation identify the issues that need to be
resolved. You will be encouraged to play an active role in the process gathering
together financial disclosure documents yourself, house valuations etc.
We may suggest sources for additional help / support such as counsellors, financial advisors, accountants and debt advisors where necessary
All our mediators are practising solicitors and can give you information, for instance, on the range of orders that a court might make, the divorce process and the effects of separation on children. We report back regularly on progress and provide interim summaries of financial information at regular intervals for disscusions with solicitors.
If terms are agreed then we will draw up a document recording the issues which
have been settled. The agreement is not legally binding, but you may wish to
take it to your solicitor who can ask the court to implement a court order
in the same terms.
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