A solicitor specialising in family law has qualified as a mediator able to conduct Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs).
Charlotte Faid, completed her mediation training in 2011 with the College of Mediators, and began practising as a mediator immediately under the consultation of Graeme Roberts of 174 Law in Bromborough, Wirral, to complete her qualification.
Since April 2014, as part of Government reforms, mediation is now a mandatory requirement for separating couples seeking a court order to resolve a dispute over children or finances who must first attend a MIAM.
Charlotte’s qualification will allow her to conduct the MIAM and mediate between parents and couples who have disputes over their children or finances during/after divorce or separation. There are many definitions of the mediation process but it involves meeting with two people or groups who are disagreeing and, as the neutral mediator to each, try to assist them in settling their dispute and facilitate communications.
There are various benefits to using mediation to sort out differences, the purpose being to divert family disputes away from formal court proceedings in the hope of resolving them more quickly and inexpensively, as well as being less stressful.
Charlotte Faid said: “Mediation can be very effective in helping parents in dispute over their child’s living arrangements as well as divorcing/separating couples who need assistance to agree the financial/property aspects of their separation.
“While I am also a solicitor, during mediation it is not my role to take sides, or even give legal advice. My role is to help facilitate discussions between the parents or parties in a bid to solve the issue outside Court. Mediation is not an easy option for everyone however a mediator will make sure that any agreement reached is fair for both parties.”