Family Mediation Lawyers In Inverness & The Highlands
In many cases when couples separate, particularly where there are children involved, mediation or other methods of alternative dispute resolution can be a more appropriate course to take. Mediation involves a mediator facilitating an agreement between the couple and can be an effective way of maintaining communication, setting the basis for a future relationship following separation, and keeping decisions about children in parents' hands.
Our experienced Family Team can offer you a comprehensive range of mediation services, helping to minimise legal fees, alleviate tension and ease the transition of a separation. Based in Inverness, our services cover the whole Highlands and Islands region, including Thurso, Caithness, Moray, Nairn, Ross-shire, Skye, Stornoway, Sutherland and Orkney.
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For more information on our family law services in Inverness & the Highlands please phone our Family Law experts on 01463 795035 or complete our simple online form, for an initial discussion or to request a callback.
Your Local Expert Family Lawyers
Laura Mclean
Laura is an experienced lawyer who advises clients on a broad range of family law issues, including divorce, financial provision on separation, cohabitation, adoption and disputes relating to children. She has gained expertise in complex and high value cases and those with intersecting public law aspects.
Laura is collaboratively trained and endeavours to negotiate amicable settlements wherever possible. She has a solution focussed and empathetic approach which helps clients navigate the legal process amidst difficult personal circumstances.
In situations where court action is necessary she is an experienced litigator who has appeared widely and regularly in the Sheriff Courts.
Grant Hassan
Grant provides family law services across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. He provides advice on all aspects of family law, most commonly involving separation and divorce, financial provision, child maintenance, cohabitation, pre & post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, residence, contact, relocation, adoption and protective remedies. He firmly believes that it can be advantageous for individuals to resolve their disputes without the use of litigation in the first instance. Find out more.
Natalie Bruce
Natalie provides advice on all aspects of family law, including child contact and residence disputes, adoption, separation, divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, pre and post nuptial agreements and cohabitation. Natalie understands that seeking advice about family matters can often be difficult, however, she works closely with clients to understand their circumstances and what they wish to achieve. Find out more.
I would like to thank you for everything that you did on my behalf. Your help and advice was excellent. I would recommend your services to anyone, and, if I get the opportunity, I will do so.
Mr McLeish
I want to thank you for your help in getting me to this stage. Your great support and advice really kept me focused on the task in hand and I really appreciate that.
HM Client
Excellent service – extremely tricky matters dealt with very well.
HM Client
Frequently Asked Questions About Mediation & Collaboration
This allows both parties to directly negotiate the matters of dispute between themselves by using solicitors. This usually occurs in the form of written correspondence to discuss the issues that require to be addressed. The desired outcome of negotiation is that both parties reach an agreement without being required to raise court proceedings.
A divorce is the legal termination or end of a marriage otherwise than by death by the granting of a Decree of Divorce. Dissolution is the term given to describe the legal termination of a Civil Partnership. A divorce or dissolution will be granted by the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.
Mediation involves both parties attending mediation sessions in the presence of an impartial third party mediator. Both parties must be willing to sit down with one another and engage in constructive negotiations. If an agreement is achieved both parties can then go back to their solicitors and enter a binding written agreement.
The collaborative process is based on a contract involving both parties and also their solicitors committing to openly engage and act with respect and integrity throughout the process. Collaboration occurs by a joint meeting or series of joint meetings around a table to negotiate matters. No correspondence takes place in-between the joint meetings. Other professionals can be brought in to the process if their expertise is required. As part of the contract entered, both parties agree that they are unable to instruct their solicitor to raise a court action if the negotiation fails.
The Family Law Arbitration Group Scotland (FLAGS) is a group of qualified legal practitioners appointed as Arbitrators. Arbitration is helpful in cases where there is an issue of principle where collaboration or mediation is not suitable and the case demands a decision. It avoids the requirement of the parties going to Court with the benefit that once the Arbitrator has made their decision it is binding.
This involves the raising of a court action at a Sheriff Court or the Court of Session. This may be appropriate in situations whereby a court order is required as a matter of urgency or where all attempts of negotiation have been unsuccessful. Although the Courts are able to grant binding decisions, the length of procedure, particularly involving children can be lengthy and expensive. Both parties should be aware that once a Court action is raised, a degree of control is removed from both parents and rests with the deciding Court. The outcome of a Court Order may not be satisfactory to either parent but is ultimately what the Court considers to be in the best interests of the child.
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