Worsley Mediation

Great news! The Family Mediation Council has announced that the government has confirmed that the Mediation Voucher Scheme will be continued for another year. This means that divorcing and separating couples can obtain up to £500 off the cost of mediation if they need help with sorting out child arrangements. The scheme is easy to use and is NOT means tested! Contact me by dm or via my website www.worsleymediation.com for more details.

Home | Worsley Mediation The home of Family Mediation in Worsley for Contact Disputes, Family Disputes, and Divorce Financial Disputes

Mediation is not compulsory but…
Until this year people involved in a family court case where the judge felt that mediation would be worth trying would have to both agree to their case being adjourned for this purpose. However a new Family Procedure Rule which came into effect on the 29 April means that the court no longer requires the parties' agreement and the court can give directions over non-court dispute resolution on its own initiative.
In the recent case of NA v LA the judge said there was nothing that suggested the case would be unsuitable (for mediation) and that the ‘court has a duty to consider' non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). 'I consider NCDR to be appropriate and I wish to encourage the parties to engage in the same. This would be to their emotional and financial benefit as well as to the benefit of their children,’ the judge added.
Both parties will be required to tell the court what engagement there has been with non-court dispute resolution, what, if any, issues have been resolved, and proposals for continuing before the judge decides an ‘appropriate way forward’.
The judge also stayed the financial proceedings with immediate effect. Acknowledging the ‘already considerable’ expense of the proceedings, with the wife’s costs exceeding £100,000, the judge said: ‘Both parties must keep the issue of costs and the proportionality of incurring the same very much at the forefront of their minds.’
(Acknowledgements to the Law Society Gazette for the case report)
Maybe the parties in this case might have saved themselves a great deal of money, not to mention the time taken and the emotional toll on themselves and their children, if they’d tried mediation in the first place!
For further information on mediation please visit

Home | Worsley Mediation The home of Family Mediation in Worsley for Contact Disputes, Family Disputes, and Divorce Financial Disputes

Members of family justice body Resolution have welcomed new research which shows most people back a change in the law to give cohabiting people more rights.
Currently, cohabiting couples have few or no rights in the event of a relationship breakdown meaning that unlike married couples there is no mechanism for splitting assets. This is despite a huge growth in the number of couples and families that cohabit rather than marry.
A nationwide poll carried out by Whitestone Insight on behalf of Resolution found around half of cohabitees are unaware that they lack rights should they split up.
• 59% of people polled back better legal protections for cohabiting people.
• 74% of cohabitees agree that ‘the current laws surrounding cohabitation are unfit for today’s modern society’
• 75% of Resolution members surveyed said they support a change in the law to provide basic rights to cohabiting couples
Asked about their concerns in the event of a relationship ending, 35% said they feared having nowhere to live – if a property is in one partner’s name the other partner has no automatic claim on it in the event of a break up. One in three said they feared significant financial hardship.
According to House of Commons Library research 1.5 million couples cohabited in 1996 but that figure increased by 144% over the following 25 years to 3.6 million in 2021. According to the recent Resolution polling 83% of respondents believe that cohabiting will become even more popular in future.
In my view today’s research demonstrates the urgent need for greater legal protection. Many cohabitees believe they are protected by ‘common-law marriage’ – but this is a myth and, sadly, they only discover this once it is too late.
That’s why I’m joining Resolution’s call for a change in the law to ensure cohabiting couples in Worsley and throughout Greater Manchester and elsewhere are not left in dire financial straits should their relationship come to an end.
Resolution launches its Vision for Family Justice in Parliament this week, highlighting a number of areas where reform is needed in order to better help families who are facing separation or divorce.
Grant Cameron, National Chair of Resolution, said, “It’s great to have so much support across the country for our call for change. For 40 years, Resolution has been campaigning for reforms which help couples who separate to do so more amicably and constructively – which is why cohabitation reform is front and centre of our Vision for Family Justice.
“The shape of families across England and Wales is changing – and our laws need to keep up.”
Remember, if you need help resolving child and/or financial issues following separation just get in touch on www.worsleymediation.com

A cold start to the day today! If relations between you and your ex are frosty I may be able to help thaw things out a bit so you can communicate better and then I can assist you to make arrangements for your children and finances without the worry and expense of court proceedings. For details please see my website www.worsleymediation.com

As well as my own Worsley Mediation work, as an accredited mediator I regularly carry out work for other mediation services. It was lovely to get this feedback from one of their clients the other day.
“Just to add it was a pleasure speaking with Paul and I was very surprised at how simple and well explained everything was within the conversation. Nothing was too much to answer or explain. He is a credit to your company and made a very anxious time very calm which was very helpful.”
If you’re considering mediation please email me at [email protected] and I’ll arrange a no obligation chat.

If you are divorcing or separating and need help with arrangements for children and/or finances just get in touch and I’ll do all I can to help. In cases involving children up to £500 per couple may be available under the Ministry of Justice Mediation Voucher Scheme to help towards the cost. It's not even means tested!

Home | Worsley Mediation The home of Family Mediation in Worsley for Contact Disputes, Family Disputes, and Divorce Financial Disputes

Did you know that the government has made a pot of money available - £5.4m in this financial year - to assist people seeking to mediate issues involving their children? £500 is available per couple and it’s NOT means tested! Some conditions do apply so please see my website for more details. I’m always happy to have an informal chat about mediation.

Home | Worsley Mediation The home of Family Mediation in Worsley for Contact Disputes, Family Disputes, and Divorce Financial Disputes

Happy New Year! Family mediation week is the 17-22 January 2022 but if your new year isn’t so happy you can contact me for information about family mediation at any time through my website www.worsleymediation.com and I will call you for a no obligation friendly chat.
Paul Kidd

As a full member of Resolution I follow their Code of Conduct to keep children in the foreground of mediation so as to achieve better outcomes for them. Contact me for an informal discussion if you would like more information.

After a full day of online mediation yesterday where better for a relaxing coffee and a cookie than here on Roe Green?

Feeling frozen out? Mediation can help resolve family issues.
www.worsleymediation.com