Frequently Asked Questions

What if my ex-partner won’t attend?

Mediation is voluntary, so if your ex-partner is unwilling to attend the preliminary mediation meeting, the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) you should still attend to demonstrate that you have considered mediation.

If you decide that you want to proceed through the Family Court, you can request that your family mediator completes the relevant section of the court application form.

How many sessions will I need?

Each mediation session is 90 minutes in duration.

On average, for child issues mediation, an estimated 2 to 3 mediation session may be required, i.e. an estimated 3 to 4.5 hours in total, depending on complexity of issues.

On average, property / financial issues mediation, an estimated 3 to 5 mediation session may be required, i.e. an estimated 4.5 to 7.5 hours in total, depending on complexity of issues.

On average for all-issues mediation (child and property / financial issues), an estimated 4 to 6 sessions are required, i.e. an estimated 6 to 9 hours in total, depending on the complexity of the issues.

What will it cost?

It depends on your income, if you are on a low income, you may be eligible for legally aided / free mediation.

If you earn less than £60,000 (per client), the hourly rate per client is £100. 

If you earn £60,000 and above, (per client) the hourly rate per client is £120.

Which areas do you cover?

The locations are as follows:

Woking, Guildford, Camberley, Weybridge, Chertsey, Staines, Farnham, Godalming, Kingston-Upon-Thames and Reigate.

Do I have to try the family mediation process if I want to make a court application?

Mediation is a voluntary process however, there is a requirement that before making an application to the Court in respect of finances or children (unless any of the specific exemptions on the court application form applies to you) that you attend a Mediation information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).  At this meeting, you will be informed about the available options and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. If you are interested in mediation, you and the mediator will discuss your family issues to make sure that mediation is an appropriate choice for you.

Am I entitled to legally aided mediation?

Clarity Works Mediation offers legally aided mediation, meaning that Legal Aid Agency (LAA) will pay your mediation fees if you are on a low income and / claiming welfare benefits.

Check if you are entitled to legally aided mediation by going to: www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid or directly contact Clarity Works to find out if you are eligible.

We aren’t talking at the moment, so how could we possibly mediate?

Most people attend mediation because they are struggling, at that point, to have constructive discussions between themselves. The job of the mediator is to facilitate discussions and to help you focus on the issues that you want to resolve; to assist you to listen to each other’s views; and to help you develop a better working relationship and reach decisions about financial matters or child arrangements. It’s completely normal to find the mediation process daunting to begin with but most people eventually feel that it has been more helpful to meet in that arena rather than at Court. If talking proves really difficult, though, there’s the option of “shuttle” mediation, where you both remain in separate rooms and don’t have to talk directly to each other.

What if we cannot reach an agreement?

For whatever reason, not reaching an agreement can occur. It is not uncommon in such situations for agreement on issues to be reached at a later date in mediation or by using a different route other than mediation by building on previous mediation.

Is there a charge for late cancellations or missed appointments?

There is a huge pressure on our diaries as mediators.  It is important that we do not lose spaces for those seeking our services as a result of late cancellations or missed appointments.  We charge for appointments that are missed or cancelled by a client at short notice.

If a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is missed or cancelled with less  than 5 working days before the meeting, there is a cancellation fee of £30 for privately paying clients and £15 for legally aided clients.

For a mediation session that is missed or cancelled with less  than 5 working days before the session, there is a cancellation fee of £150 for privately paying clients and £30 for legally aided clients.

Sophie, Weybridge

“Thank you so much. Prior to mediation, me and my ex could barely look at each other and would always find ways of blaming each other. We just could not agree on hardly anything to do with our boys. We were stuck in the past and how we had hurt each other in our marriage. Our mediator at Clarity Works had a way of talking to us and asking questions that would help us to discuss the issues that really mattered to both of us regarding our children. We were able to agree on arrangements for our 2 boys that have worked out best for us as parents and most of all for our boys. We are now civil to one another and realise that it is essential for the well-being for our family.”

Kunle, Woking

“I had no idea about the power of mediation and the difference it would make to me and my children’s lives both now and in the future. We are so relieved that we avoided the courts and were able to resolve our issues in a more amicable and effective way. Thank you.”

Joseph, Farnborough

“I really did not know what to expect with mediation and felt terror just thinking that I would lose out so much - my children, the family property and my financial situation. I was wrong. Mediation helped us both to understand what was possible by looking at all sorts of options to make the most of what we had to offer as parents. Don’t get me wrong, it was tough, but we worked it out together with the assistance of our mediator. I now feel relieved and know that we have made good decisions together for our family’s future.”

Valencia, Chertsey

“One of our daughters has special needs. We were able to discuss and agree in mediation how we will tackle the challenges she faces. Our mediator created an atmosphere that made me feel secure. I felt that she was sensitive to our vulnerabilities. She knew when to be tough with us, when to empathise which helped us to appreciate what challenges we were facing as individuals and as a family. She did not judge us but helped focus our minds on our children and how our separation had impacted on them. We were able to work out what we hoped for and what our concerns were as a family. We have put in place arrangements to restore our family as separated parents.”