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Insight > Divorce and family FAQs > What is Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM)?
Mediation and other methods of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR)
What is Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM)?
Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) enables children to have a voice in the mediation process. It is optional and, depending on the individual family and child(ren) involved, it may be considered where the child(ren) are at least 10 years old and/or of sufficient maturity to be invited to have a conversation with a specially trained mediator.
CIM is an 'offshoot' of a standard mediation process rather than a standalone option and, whilst the couple's mediator may be the Child Inclusive Mediator, it is more likely that they will ask another mediator to carry out the role in order to ensure that the children's confidentiality is preserved. Both parents and, importantly, the child must agree to child inclusive mediation.
If you and your former partner decide with your mediator that CIM would be beneficial, then your child or children will be invited (either via you or directly by the Child Inclusive Mediator) to attend a meeting. The meeting between the child and the Child Inclusive Mediator is confidential (save if any information comes to light to suggest that the child is at risk of harm). This is to enable the child to talk freely. The Child Inclusive Mediator's role is to listen to the child and give them an opportunity to share their views. The Child Inclusive Mediator will not put forward either parent's view, nor will they ask the child specific questions, and importantly they will not ask the child to make any choices. They will instead be guided by what the child may wish to talk about. They will only feed back to the parents what the child has agreed may be fed back to them.
In these FAQs and answers, we use 'England' as a shorthand for 'England and Wales' because England and Wales share a single legal system. Scotland, meanwhile, is a different legal system and has different rules for many aspects of family law.
We have also chosen to talk about 'marriages' most of the time (which may be between either an opposite or same-sex couple). Unless we say otherwise, what we have said is also true of civil partnerships (which may also be between an opposite or same-sex couple).
These FAQs (and our website more generally) contain general information based on English law as it stands at the date of publication, but they do not constitute legal advice, nor are they tailored to any couple or family's particular circumstances. Whilst we endeavour to ensure it is accurate and up to date, website users should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from any action based on the content of the website. We would, of course, be willing to assist with this, and you can contact us here.
Any pricing information is similarly general. Our clients' relationship with us is governed by the terms of the engagement letter sent to them at the beginning of their instruction.
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