This is a commonly asked question which is tricky to answer with any certainty. It depends on what you need to sort out and how well you and the other person are able to work together. In your MIAM, the mediator will give you an indication of likely session numbers. Generally speaking, we would say the following:

• Child-only issues (parenting arrangements, special days, holidays, communication): 1-3 joint meetings.
• Financial and property issues only: 3-4 joint meetings.
• All-issues (child and financial issues): 4-6 joint meetings.

Each joint meeting will last for up to 1.5 hours.

We offer parents the opportunity for their children to be involved (known as Child-Inclusive Mediation or CIM). For more information please speak to your mediator. If you wish the mediator to see your children and the children agree, that meeting will take up to an hour and the mediator will need a commitment from you both to receive your children’s feedback.

For more information please talk to your mediator.