Skip to main content
Legal news

Changes to funding for family mediation

Wendy Campbell Wendy Campbell
2 min read

There are huge changes in legal funding available for family cases coming into force in April this year. Legal funding (save in certain narrowly defined exceptional circumstances) will no longer be available for divorce, financial remedy and private children matters. It is expected that this will result in a massive increase in parties navigating their own way through the divorce process and associated court proceedings in relation to the finances associated with the breakdown of their marriage and issues concerning arrangements for their children. This is likely to have a major impact upon the efficiency of the Court process as Court staff and Judges struggle to deal with cases where both parties are unrepresented.

There are however other means of resolving issues in connection with relationship breakdown. One of those is via the process of family mediation. This is one area of dispute resolution the government is investing money in. The government has just this week announced that it is increasing the level of funding available for family mediation from £10 million to £25 million. This is a significant increase. Mediation is a much cheaper method of resolving family disputes as parties pay one mediator’s charges as opposed to two solicitors hourly rates. It is also much quicker than going through the Court process and a qualitative choice for people who do not want to hand over decisions which will undoubtedly have a big impact on the rest of their life to the Courts.

At Winston Solicitorswe offer a comprehensive family mediation service which is run by experienced and accredited family mediators through the Family Mediation Council. We have recently been successful in obtaining the Mediation Quality Mark standard from the Legal Services Commission and can assist those who qualify for public funding in addition to continuing to assist privately paying clients.

For more information please contact the family team on 0113 320 5000

 

Client feedback

Excellent response times, feel very supported by them, and give good, fair and impartial advice too when needed. Very professional.
Jessica
My Will was written during Wills Month via St Gemma's Hospice. The service was quick and efficient. I have only given 4 stars as there was an error in the original draft.
Anonymous
Found the process smooth and efficient. I was able to get information I required promptly and if not available immediately on the telephone then any messages left were replied to. Siddra Razaq and Tom McIlroy were responsible for the handling of my sale and I would certainly use them again.
"Dianne"
Monika in particular was very professional, efficient, friendly and helpful when drafting our wills
Brian
Very helpful and promptly anwsers emails as soon as.
Anonymous
Many of my family members have used Winstons Solicitors for their conyancing, over many years. I too have now used them and they did not disappoint. Samantha Robertson-Strong and Paulo Dos Santos were my main persons of contact. They were highly professional and very thorough, whilst maintaining an air of friendliness and approachability throughout. I cannot recommend them highly enough!
Mr T
Monika is extremely trustworthy, professional and experienced. Have very much felt in safe hands during a very difficult and stressful time of my life. Would highly recommend.
Zoe
Good Solicitors, helped couple times. Nice comunicion and people
Tadas
Contact Wendy