Family Mediation Week

Separating parents urged to avoid courtroom conflict as Family Mediation Week kicks off across the UK

Parents living in London and Brighton who have decided to separate or divorce in 2025 are being urged to find out how to avoid courtroom confrontation to settle money and parenting arrangements, with the launch of Family Mediation Week, 27 – 31 January.

January usually sees a rise in the number of parents deciding to live apart as the various pressures that go hand-in-hand with the Christmas period act as a final straw for relationships.

Family Mediation Week is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of family mediation

Thomas Brownrigg, a Partner at Goodman Ray who is an accredited and child-inclusive mediator and is based in both our London and Brighton offices says Family Mediation Week is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of family mediation, a process that can help ex-partners agree what works for them, whilst avoiding the court process with all the stress, delay and cost it can bring. He says:

“Many parents emerge from the festive period feeling defeated by the pressures on relationships, parenting and finances that have been highlighted during the holiday period.

In my work in both Brighton and London I find parents in this position often don’t know which way to turn and the options available to them. Their life-changing decision to separate brings with it so many tough questions:

• Who lives where?
• Will we be able to keep things amicable between us?
• How will this impact on the children: where will they live; how will we make sure we each spend time with them?
• How will we sort money?
• What about debts and pensions?
• And even the family dog?

My hope is that this family mediation week helps reassure separating couples the different ways that mediation can evolve to their particular circumstances to help them find a solution, as well as the huge benefits of child-inclusive mediation and giving children a voice in the separation process”.

Trudi Featherstone, a Partner at Goodman Ray who is an accredited mediator and is based in both our London office says:

“Family Mediation Week shines a helpful spotlight on these tricky issues, offering separating parents information about their options as they look to make arrangements for parenting, property and finance.

“Family mediation is a process where an independent, professionally-trained mediator helps you work these things out, enabling you to avoid courtroom confrontation. Professional mediators help empower you to create long-term solutions for your particular circumstances, rather than leaving it to a court to make decisions for your family.”

Goodman Ray offer the Family Mediation Council voucher scheme. This is available, regardless of means, for most mediations which include discussions about children. The voucher covers the first £500 inc VAT of mediation costs once the attendees have had their Mediation Intake Assessment Meetings. Please contact us for more details regarding eligibility.

Goodman Ray’s mediation team is comprised of:

• Trudi Featherstone. A Partner and accredited mediator who specialises in mediation on financial and children issues;
• Thomas Brownrigg. A Partner who is an accredited mediator for financial and children issues, as well as offering child-inclusive and hybrid mediation;
• Janet Broadley. Who has a particular specialism in mediating on international children issues and child-abduction.