Mediation can happen at any stage. It may be appropriate once you have considered the broad position with your individual solicitor and have taken advice or may be helpful before you see a solicitor as an alternative way of resolving your dispute. Mediation has the potential to assist parties in resolving issues about their finances and their children directly with their former partner, whilst also enabling them to retain control of the process themselves. In effect this means that important issues can be discussed between the parties, in one or more meetings, with a trained mediator. The mediator is impartial and is there to assist you in finding the best solution for you and your family. The mediation can take place alongside independent legal advice if this is the wish of the individual. Mediation will be a cheaper solution as the costs of the individual sessions, which may last one and a half hours, are shared between the parties. Each mediator will set out their hourly rate and will normally estimate the number of meetings that may be required. If a settlement proposal is agreed between the parties during the mediation, the mediator will then prepare a document known as a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ which explains to the parties’ individual solicitors what has been discussed and what principles have formed the basis for their proposal. The parties’ solicitors will advise each of them separately on the proposal. If part of the proposal is a financial agreement, the solicitors can draft the proposal into a formal document known as a Consent Order, which if all agreed, is signed by the parties, and sent to court for a Judge to approve and seal. It is when the Order is sealed that it is made binding on the parties. The proposals about the children’s arrangements are contained in the Memorandum of Understanding but are not normally put into a court Order to be sealed unless there are reasons why this is necessary.