Welcome to Family Matters
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Family Mediation in High Wycombe and St Albans
ABOUT TONY BOBROFF
Tony worked in industry for almost 40 years, firstly with Ford Motor Company and then with Marks and Spencer for 10 years, when he joined one of their major manufacturers. He became Chief Executive of the largest division of Courtaulds in 1998, responsible for over 2000 people. He has a lifetime of experience managing people as well as negotiating with retail buyers, directors, suppliers and trade unions. He also, in his last six years, worked for smaller companies within the textile sector as well as running his own business consultancy.
On retiring Tony qualified as a Family Mediator with the FMA. He is Family Mediation Council Accredited and has managed over 450 hours of Mediation and 400 Assessments. He has brought his substantial commercial and negotiating experience to bear in Children and Property and Finance Mediations.
AREAS OF SERVICE
With a wide range of services that suit your every need and requirement, our team has the know-how and expertise to get done what you need done. Let us know how we can help, and we guarantee your experience with our professionals will be enjoyable and satisfactory. We love to hear from our customers, so feel free to contact us with your feedback.
WHAT IS FAMILY MEDIATION?
Family mediation sorts out the practical arrangements necessary in divorce or separation.
It involves the clients sitting together with a mediator to look at options and workable solutions.
Mediation is quicker, cheaper and less acrimonious than other routes.
We also deal with co-parenting, child contact, child maintenance and other issues.
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This gives you the best of both worlds: you negotiate face to face but can then take an outline of your arrangements to get legal advice on how things are progressing. This is a faster, more cost effective and less acrimonious route
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The courts want to know people have at least looked at whether then can sort things out between themselves and are using the courts as a last, rather than first, resort.
MEDIATION FOR CHILDREN
Once you know you are going to separate it is often good to try to sort out arrangements for the children to give them security in a time of change and uncertainty. It also enables you, the parents, to move on to dealing with other issues to do with your separation or divorce.
Mediation can help you stand back from the problems between you and your partner and focus on an important area of common interest: the welfare and well-being of your children.
We always remember that parents are the people who know their children best. We help you come to the best decisions for their future.
If you wish your arrangements can be given legal effect by a Court. This is a simple matter of applying for a Consent Order once you've completed mediation.
We will work through the issues that need to be addressed. We can also look at specific matters or a whole parenting plan. We can talk about issues such as:
how the children will be told about the changes they may be facing
who will live where
child maintenance arrangements
who will pay for what?
how the children will have contact with the non-resident parent
the children's contact with wider family
how and when the arrangements will be made
how changes to the arrangments will be negotiated
holiday, birthday and Christmas arrangements
how both parents will be involved in the children's education
how both parents will make joint decisions about the children...etc.
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You may find these websites interesting regarding the possible effect on children of Separating Parents
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https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/divorce-and-separation
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https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/leaflets-resources/our-videos/who-is-cafcass-and-what-do-we-do.aspx
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PROPERTY & FINANCE MEDIATION
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There are essentially three stages to dealing with property and finance:
First, there is the full disclosure of all the assets and liabilities of the parties. We also look at the income and needs of each party.
Second, we look at the options available and examine how they would work in practice.
Finally, we take the favoured option and draw up proposals for the division and allocation of the assets and liabilities. At this stage clients often wish to take a draft of the outline proposals to talk these through with a legal adviser before the final versions of the proposals are drawn up. This makes it much more straightforward if you wish your proposals subsequently to be given legal effect.
In the course of discussing your options we will look at the best ways of dealing with property, pensions and all savings and investments. We look at mortgages, loans and other borrowings and can also look at child or spousal maintenance.
At any point in mediation your mediator may suggest you seek specialist professional advice or information to help you make informed decisions, as would be the case if you were consulting a solicitor.
The more information you have the easier it will be to make informed decisions for your future.
TO FIND OUT MORE BOOK A CONFIDENTIAL MIAMS
(MEDIATION INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENT MEETING)
The first step is to book a confidential, one to one meeting for you to find out more about the Mediation process and assess whether you think it would be helpful to you and your situation. Mediation is completely voluntary and will only work if all 3 of us (You, your ex and me) believe it appropriate in the circumstances. Having said that over 80% of my Mediations achieve a successful outcome, if both parties can sit round the table with me.Â
It is so much less traumatic and more conciliatory  for parting couples to separate through Mediation rather than fight their way through an expensive court process with all the accompanying confrontation. The benefit to children is also immeasurable, they cope so much better when they know that Mum & Dad will always be their Mum & Dad, that still talk and will continue to work together for the benefit of the whole family.
Our Client Testimonials
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“What a lot you have achieved with this couple, having seen the full force of their anger, I think this is remarkable” Mrs M Feb 15
“I would like to thank you very much for your help in achieving a way forward. I’m sure it has not only saved a good deal of time but also expense in sorting these matters out “ Mr H Aug 12
“I think it was the only non-confrontational assistance we received and therefore ultimately the only of any value, my sincerest thanks to you” Mr S Aug 14
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“Mrs x has asked that I pass on her great thanks to you – found you ‘so helpful and you were fantastic yesterday- she really appreciates everything you have done” office Mar 16
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“While writing, let me take this opportunity to thank you for the way you dealt with us.” Mr C Mar 17
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“Tony, A huge thank you from me for getting us to this point. You have lifted a huge weight from my mind that has been plaguing me for years and I am enormously grateful to you for following this mediation through and for bringing us back in today to fully resolve our situation. Many, many thanks,” Mrs H April 17
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“Thank you very much for your hard work. I hope I don't have to recommend you to anyone if you know what I mean but will definitely do if someone asks.” Mrs A May 17
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“I am very happy we met you, you are a very special man” Mrs B Sept 14
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
When you're in need of a dependable Mediation Service, don’t hesitate. Contact Family Matters with Tony Bobroff Mediation today.
The Clare Centre
Wycombe Road
Saunderton
Bucks HP14 4HU
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2 Fountain Court
Victoria Street
St Albans
Herts AL1 3TF
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07483868044