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Bristol Family Mediators Association - Guiding you through your family issues...

 Are you facing separation or divorce?

 Do you need help arranging contact with your children?

 Are you worried about how you will manage financially?

This can be a time of great distress and disruption for a family and yet decisions have to be made.

Bristol Family Mediators Association, (BFMA) can guide you through your family issues and give you the opportunity to consider all the options available, in a safe and confidential environment, without having to deal with costly court proceedings.
 
Families often have to make decisions in a number of areas, including arrangements for the children, financial arrangements and legal aspects.
 
   

About Children

 

About Finances

  

About the Law

Opening up ways to communicate and cooperate

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Looking ahead to a secure future

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Clear information on rights and responsibilities

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Your Legal Options
Many divorcing and separating parents are unsure of their legal options, rights and responsibilities. The law differs in respect of married couples or those in a civil partnership and non-married couples. Mediation can clarify the particular legal requirements for each situation and enable couples to decide on an appropriate way forward.

Divorce is a legal process that ends a marriage with its benefits and responsibilities. The parties need to re arrange their lives, in terms of the future care of children and the division of assets accrued during the marriage.

Courts are increasingly aware that the best and most lasting outcome for all concerned can be obtained through co-operation rather than by an order imposed by the Court. Mediation provides the facility for this.

Proposals reached in mediation are not legally binding, but can be made in to a legally binding agreement that may form part of a settlement.

Co-habiting couples
Mediation is an invaluable aid to separating partners. Separation raises similar issues for co-habiting couples regarding arrangements for children and finances.

Through mediation BFMA can help you decide what you can agree between you and what needs more formal legally binding agreement. Although the law varies for married and non-married couples, mediation is relevant in all situations in enabling couples to decide on the appropriate way forward.

Again the proposals reached in mediation can be formalised in to a legally binding agreement through solicitors.

Legal advice
BFMA’s Mediators strongly recommend that parties have their own legal adviser.

Family lawyers are aware of the benefits of mediation and indeed are the most frequent source of referral. Their experience enables them to give realistic estimates to their clients of the best and worst possible outcome if matters went to court.