FMC Registered Mediators can provide general legal information: for example by telling you what the law says about financial settlements on divorce in general terms, but they cannot provide legal advice by telling you what that general laws means for you personally, in your particular circumstances.
Legal advice may be helpful for:
- making a decision on any legal matter connected with your mediation discussions
- considering any proposed agreement reached through mediation
- turning the written agreement into a legally binding document, such as a consent order
- supporting you in preparing divorce papers for the court, if necessary
You can get legal advice from a solicitor. You can arrange this at any point in the process. It’s important to make sure that the solicitor you choose specialises in family law and follows the Law Society’s Family Law Protocol – you can check this when making your first enquiries.
A family solicitor instructed by you will act for you and you alone but should also help you think about how decisions could affect other family members, especially any children involved.
You may be concerned about the cost of legal fees. If you’re talking to your ex about your issues, and working together to reach agreement through mediation, there is much less need for a solicitor’s time. This means that legal fees can be kept as low as possible.
Affordable Advice offers affordable legal advice to separating couples by blending online step-by-step guidance from Law for Life’s Advicenow website and offline legal advice from a panel of Resolution family solicitors at crucial points in the process.
Remember, you may not have to pay for legal help in support of mediation if you get legal aid.
Alternatively, you could contact
- a law centre;
- an advice organisation such as AdviceNow or Citizens Advice; or
- the Royal Courts of Justice advice pages.
