BREAKING up is hard to do but sorting out issues to do with children, property and finances can make a very stressful situation even worse.

Up to now, couples thinking of separation or divorce were often forced to resolve differences in an acrimonious court battle but all that is about to change.

From this week anyone seeking legal aid for disputes relating to their children, property or finances will first have to attend a meeting with a mediator approved by the Legal Aid Board.

In Lancaster and Morecambe this service will be provided by the Family Mediation Consortium based in Church Street in Lancaster.

The Consortium is a unique group of solicitors and family mediators who are all committed to helping separating and divorcing couples work out amicable arrangements.

"Going through the court process, people are told not to talk to each other and it can become very adversarial," said consortium member, Richard Hirst.

"Mediation does just the reverse. We encourage people to talk to each other. Very often a marriage breaks down because there is no communication and our trained mediators try to establish a working dialogue. Going through the courts can be lengthy, stressful and expensive but, by using mediation, amicable settlements can usually be reached."

Until now mediation has only been available for private paying clients but the Family Law Act 1996 seeks to make Family Mediation Services available to everyone in England and Wales subject to financial eligibility.

If you are currently contemplating separation or divorce and would prefer to try and work out amicable arrangements for your children, property and finances with the assistance of a mediator then call the Family Mediation Consortium on freephone 0800 9170603.

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