Family Mediation and Family Courts in Northern Ireland
Family mediation services are now integrated into Relate NI, and we are funded to give separated parents the option to avoid entering the court system, when both parents engage with mediation they achieve better outcomes for the whole family. They negotiate and reach their own agreements about co-parenting their children post separation. Evaluations and research show that the outcomes for children are better and long-lasting than going through a stressful, adversarial legal process.
However, in certain circumstance families may require the services of a solicitor and/or going to court may be necessary.
There are many helpful resources available on-line. However, it is important that parents access Northern-Ireland specific information. There are different application forms and rules for the Northern Irish courts and, all too often, a general search via Google or AI will throw up information about the courts in England and Wales.
In Northern Ireland, there is no legal requirement to have considered mediation before making an application to court (unlike in England & Wales). Although family proceeding court Judges would appreciate if more parents did. There is no requirement to have a solicitor to make an application to court or to respond to a court summons. It is possible to do it yourself as a “litigant in person”; however, this can be difficult and stressful.
There is Northern Ireland specific information on the following sites –
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/attending-family-courts
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/familycourtinfo/going-to-court
Copies of the forms needed for court and the fees are also available on –
https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/family-forms
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