The nature and significance of agreement in family court mediation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v11i1.430Abstract
This article explores the meaning of agreement, or settlement, in family court mediation through a review of pertinent literature illuminated by findings from a recent UK-based survey of users of child-centred mediation services. Particular attention is paid to issues of legal representation, the voluntariness of mediation, the persistence of agreements and the reasons why they do not last, representing the child’s perspective, user expectations of mediation, and the impact of intimate partner violence in this context. It is argued that mediated agreements do carry considerable significance for parents who are seeking to manage contact and residence arrangements for their children.
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