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.
References
Adams, J. (1996) Lone fatherhood. <i>Practice</i>, 8, 1, 15-26\nBryan, P. (1994) The Lawyer’s role in divorce mediation. <i>Family Law Quarterly</i>, 28, 2, 177-222\nBachman, R. (1999) Epidemiology of intimate partner violence and other family violence involving adults. in R. Ammerman and M. Hersen (eds.) <i>Assessment of Family Violence: A clinical and legal sourcebook</i>. New York: Wiley\nCheetham, J., Fuller, R., McIvor, G. and Petch, A. (1992) <i>Evaluating Social Work Effectiveness</i>. Buckingham: Open University Press\nDavis, G., Finch, S. and Fitzgerald, R. (2001a) Mediation and legal services: The client speaks. <i>Family Law</i>, 31, 110-114\nDavis, G., Bevan, G. and Pearce, J. (2001b) Family mediation: Where do we go from here? <i>Family Law</i>, 31, 265-269\nDeMaris, A. and Grief, G. (1996) Single custodial fathers and their children: When things go well. in A.Hawkins and D.Dollahite (eds.), <i>Generative Fathering; Beyond deficit perspectives</i>. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage\nDowling, E. and Gorell Barnes, G. (2000) <i>Working with Children and Parents through Separation and Divorce</i>. Basingstoke: Macmillan\nFisher, T. and Hodgson, D. (2001) Family mediation: Did it make things better? <i>Family Law</i>, 31, 270-274\nFoundations on-line: A Man’s Place in the Home: Fathers and Families in the UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation <a target="_blank" href='http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/552.asp'>http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/552.asp</a>\nFreeman, M. (1996) <i>The Family Law Act 1996</i>. London: Sweet and Maxwell\nHawkins, A. and Dollahite, D. (eds.) (1993) <i>Generative Fathering: Beyond deficit perspectives</i>. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage\nHaynes, J. (1997) <i>Alternative Dispute Resolution: The fundamentals of family mediation</i>. Horsmonden: Old Bailey Press\nHetherington, E. and Stanley-Hogan, M. (1997) The effects of divorce on fathers and their children. in M. Lamb (ed.) <i>The Role of the Father in Child Development</i>. New York: Wiley\nLewis, C., Papacosta, A. and Warin, J. (2002) <i>Cohabitation, Separation and Fatherhood</i>. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation/YPS\nLiebmann, M. (1998) Mediation. in Y. Craig (ed.) <i>Advocacy, Counselling and Mediation in Casework</i>. London: Jessica Kingsley\nLord Chancellor’s Department (1995) <i>Looking to the Future: Mediation and the Ground for Divorce: The Government’s proposals</i>. Cm 2799, London: HMSO\nMantle, G. (2001a) <i>Helping Parents in Dispute: Child-centred mediation at County Court</i>. Aldershot: Ashgate\nMantle, G. (2001b) The effectiveness of County Court mediation. <i>Family Law</i>, 31, 147-148\nMantle, G. (2001c) <i>A Consumer Survey of Agreements Reached in County Court Dispute Resolution</i>. Occasional Paper No.2. Witham, UK: Essex Probation Service\nMorgan, C. (1996) <i>Mediation in West Glamorgan Family Court Welfare Service</i>. Neath: West Glamorgan Probation Service\nMoser, C. and Kalton, G. (1971) <i>Survey Methods in Social Investigation</i>. Aldershot: Gower\nMullender, A. and Hague, G. (2000) <i>Reducing Domestic Violence. What Works?: Women survivors’ views</i>. Briefing Note. London: Home Office\nParkinson, L. (1997) <i>Family Mediation</i>. London: Sweet and Maxwell\nParkinson, L. (2000) Compulsory mediation. <i>Family Law</i>, 30, 857\nRoach Anleu, S.L. (2000) <i>Law and Social Change</i>. London: Sage\nRobinson, M. (1999) Family mediation involving children. in M. Hill (ed.) <i>Effective Ways of Working with Children and their Families</i>. London: Jessica Kingsley\nRobinson, N. and Brisby, T. (2001) Family mediation referrals under the Funding Code revisited. <i>Family Law</i>, 31, 59-63\nSnarey, J. (1993) <i>How Fathers Care for the Next Generation: A four-decade study</i>. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press\nStevenson, M. (2000) Family mediation: Working to support separated families. in M. Liebmann (ed.), <i>Mediation in Context</i>. London: Jessica Kingsley\nTaylor, A. and Sanchez, E. (1991) Out of the white box: Adapting mediation to the needs of Hispanic and other minorities within American society. <i>Family and Conciliation Courts Review</i>, 29, 114-127\nWalker, J., McCarthy, P. and Timms, N. (1994) <i>Mediation. The making and remaking of co-operative relationships: An evaluation of the effectiveness of comprehensive mediation</i>. Newcastle: University of Newcastle, Relate Centre for Family Studies\n
Downloads
Published
2012-12-26
How to Cite
Mantle, G. (2012). The nature and significance of agreement in family court mediation. Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 11(1), 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v11i1.430
Issue
Section
Articles
License
Copyright lies with the journal. Enquiries regarding reproduction should be sent in the first place to enquiries@whitingbirch.net
