What is MIAM?
You may have heard about a MIAM which is the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.
Mediation Journey
Mediation is the starting point for families who need to think about the future regarding both arrangements for children and / or to agree on a financial settlement. Neither of you can progress through the legal system if that was your intention, until you have seen a mediator.
However, parents can come to mediation at all different stages including both before or after their separation. They may have separated some time ago and had arrangements in place but have reached a bump in the road and are unsure how to get back on track; they find themselves in different circumstances from when they originally agreed on arrangements for their children; the children are now older, and their needs have changed. Parents are often unsure how to navigate their way forward to change existing arrangements or have become stuck and can’t discuss it with one another.
If separation is quite recent, an interim arrangement may be in place but is not suitable for the longer term.
Mediation is also helpful to couples who are either separating or divorcing and need to agree on a financial settlement. Even if you and your ex no longer have an amicable relationship, this is not a barrier to using mediation. If you want to minimise cost, avoid the stress of court hearings, and wish to be fair to one another, mediation is a good option.
MIAM – Starting Point
You begin by attending an individual MIAM.
Initially you each attend a separate MIAM with me the mediator to assess if mediation is the most appropriate option for you. This meeting lasts around 45-60 minutes and is presently being conducted via Zoom.
Its purpose is to allow me to explain to you, how mediation works and can help, you tell your story and together we identify your aims if you were to attend mediation. Both you and I are assessing whether mediation is the right option for you and your circumstances.
If your ex will not engage in booking a MIAM, or after attending you, your ex or the mediator decide mediation is not appropriate, other options will need to be considered including a court application. You cannot proceed to court without a signed form which I will issue after the MIAM.
At the conclusion of the individual MIAMs you need to agree on using mediation. Providing both of you and I agree, your next appointment will be a joint one with the mediator either with all three of us on the screen or by meeting via a shuttle mediation model.
If mediation is not going ahead, I will explain the other options and issue the signed court form.