Family Mediation and Divorce Support in East Kent
Practical support for separating couples and families across East Kent.
Divorce Doesn’t Have to be a Battle
Are you separating or divorcing in East Kent and unsure what to do next?
You may be worried about arrangements for your children, what will happen to the family home, how to sort out finances, or whether you need to attend a MIAM before making a court application.
I provide online family mediation and divorce support for people across East Kent and the wider Kent area, including Dover, Deal, Canterbury, Folkestone, Faversham, Hythe, Ashford, Thanet, Sandwich, Whitstable and Herne Bay.
At Divorce Nicely, I help people across East Kent take clear, practical steps through separation and divorce.
I offer family mediation for divorce and separation, online MIAM appointments and one-to-one divorce consultancy, all online across Kent and beyond.
Whether you need help with children, finances, property or simply understanding your options, I can help you work out the next step.
Family Mediation in East Kent
Family mediation gives separating couples a structured and supportive way to work through the practical decisions that arise after separation or divorce.
With the support of an independent, accredited family mediator, you can identify the issues that need to be resolved, exchange relevant information and explore possible ways forward. Where mediation is suitable, this can help reduce confusion and allow you to focus on the decisions that matter most without asking a court to make those decisions for you.
Family mediation can help you discuss issues, including:
- arrangements for children
- where children will live and how they will spend time with each parent
- communication between parents after separation
- the family home
- property and savings
- pensions and financial disclosure
- monthly budgets and future financial needs
- practical next steps after separation
Throughout the process, you remain responsible for the decisions you make. I do not take sides or tell either of you what you should agree. Instead, I help you identify the issues, understand the information available, consider your options and work towards practical arrangements that you can both accept.
Start with a MIAM
A MIAM is a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.
If you are considering making certain applications to the family court about children or finances, you will usually need to attend a MIAM first, unless an exemption applies.
Your MIAM is a private, individual meeting. It gives you an opportunity to explain your situation, understand the different ways of resolving matters outside court and consider whether family mediation may be suitable.
During your MIAM, I will:
- listen to your situation
- explain how mediation works
- consider whether mediation may be suitable
- discuss other non-court options that may be available
- explain the next steps clearly
- issue a MIAM certificate where required
All Divorce Nicely MIAMs take place online and you attend on your own. The other person is not present.
Importantly, attending a MIAM does not commit you to mediation or to making a court application. It simply gives you the information you need to decide what to do next.
Divorce Consultancy in East Kent
When you need guidance of your own
Sometimes, you may not be ready for mediation. You may be unsure what questions to ask, how to organise your thoughts or what steps to take before discussing matters with your former partner.
My divorce consultancy service gives you one-to-one practical guidance, tailored to your situation.
This can help if you:
- feel overwhelmed and do not know where to start
- want to understand the divorce or separation process
- need help preparing for mediation
- want to organise your thoughts before speaking to your former partner
- need support with thinking through arrangements for your children
- want help understanding the financial disclosure process
- feel unsure about the options available to you
Divorce consultancy is not legal advice. It is practical, informed support drawing on my experience as a family mediator and my background as a family solicitor, helping you feel clearer, more organised and better prepared.
Online Support, with a Local Understanding
Divorce Nicely is based in East Kent, while all MIAMs, family mediation sessions and divorce consultancy meetings take place online.
For many people, meeting online makes it easier to fit appointments around work, childcare and everyday life. You do not need to travel, arrange parking or take additional time away from home or work.
Online meetings can be particularly helpful if:
- one of you has moved to another area
- work or childcare commitments make travelling difficult
- you live some distance apart
- you feel more comfortable talking from your own home
- you want a convenient way to attend mediation without travelling
Although the service is online, you are still working with a mediator based in East Kent who understands the local area and the communities I serve.
Supporting Separating Couples Across East Kent
I work with people looking for family mediation, MIAMs and divorce support throughout East Kent and the surrounding area.
​Because all meetings take place online, you can access support wherever you are based, including:
- Dover
- Deal
- Sandwich
- Canterbury
- Folkestone
- Hythe
- Ashford
- Thanet
- Ramsgate
- Broadstairs
- Margate
- Whitstable
- Herne Bay
- Faversham
- Sittingbourne
You can also work with Divorce Nicely if you live elsewhere in Kent or anywhere in England and Wales.
Why Choose Divorce Nicely?
​When you are separating, it can be difficult to know who to turn to or what your next step should be.
I’m Cathy O’Mahoney, an FMC-accredited family mediator and non-practising solicitor, with more than 30 years’ legal experience and nearly 20 years’ experience in family mediation.
My approach is calm, practical and straightforward. I help you understand the process, identify the issues that need to be resolved and take things one step at a time.
When you work with Divorce Nicely, you can expect:
- clear explanations in plain English
- a calm and structured approach
- impartial support from an accredited family mediator
- a child-focused approach where children are involved
- practical help working through financial and property issues
- discussions focused on future arrangements rather than past conflict
- online meetings that you can attend from your own home
I cannot make difficult decisions for you, and I do not take sides or provide legal advice. My role is to help you understand your options, have constructive discussions and make informed decisions about the way forward.
Do We Have to Be Amicable to Use Mediation?
No. You do not have to be on good terms or agree on everything before mediation starts.
In fact, people often come to family mediation precisely because communication has become difficult or they have very different views about what should happen next.
​You do, however, both need to be able to take part safely and effectively. Family mediation is not suitable for every family or every situation, which is why I meet with each of you individually before joint mediation begins.
I provide a structured setting in which you can identify the issues, explain your concerns, consider each other’s proposals and explore possible ways forward.
During your MIAM, I will consider with you whether mediation appears suitable and whether any particular arrangements may be needed to help you take part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Your MIAMs and Mediation Sessions Online?
Yes. All Divorce Nicely meetings take place online, including MIAMs, family mediation sessions and one-to-one divorce consultancy.
MIAMs are private, individual meetings, so you attend on your own. If mediation then goes ahead, the mediation sessions are arranged separately with both participants.
Can You Issue a MIAM Certificate?
Yes. If you have attended a MIAM with me and need to make a relevant application to the family court, I can usually issue the appropriate MIAM certificate.
A MIAM certificate is normally valid for four months from the date of your MIAM. If you do not need the certificate immediately, you can request it later, provided your MIAM is still within that four-month period.
Attending a MIAM does not mean that you have to proceed with mediation.
Do We Both Need to Attend a MIAM?
Not together. A MIAM is a private, individual meeting.
If both of you are considering mediation, each of you would normally attend your own separate MIAM before any joint mediation takes place.
The other person is not present during your MIAM, and what you discuss with me is confidential, subject to the usual safeguarding and legal exceptions.
How Many Mediation Sessions Will We Need?
There is no fixed number of mediation sessions.
The number you need will depend on the issues you are discussing, how complex they are, what information needs to be gathered and how quickly you are able to make progress.
Some families need only a small number of sessions, while others need more time to work through children, financial or property matters.
I will help you keep the process focused and will explain the likely next steps as the mediation progresses.
Do I Need a MIAM Before Going to Court?
For many applications to the family court about children or finances, the person making the application must usually attend a MIAM first, unless a valid exemption applies.
There are recognised exemptions, including in certain circumstances involving domestic abuse, child protection concerns or urgency.
If you are unsure whether you need a MIAM, I can explain the MIAM process and the options available to you. Where an exemption is claimed, it is ultimately for the court to consider whether that exemption applies.
If you attend a MIAM with me and later need the appropriate court certificate, I can usually issue it while your MIAM remains valid.
What if the Other Person Refuses to Mediate?
Mediation is voluntary, so the other person cannot be forced to take part.
If they decide not to attend a MIAM or do not wish to proceed with mediation, that does not prevent you from considering your own options or, where appropriate, making an application to the family court.
If you have attended your own MIAM and need the relevant court certificate, I can usually issue this while your MIAM remains valid.
You can also read more about what happens if your ex refuses mediation.
Do You Give Legal Advice?
No. As a family mediator, I remain independent and impartial and do not give legal advice to either person.
I can provide legal information where appropriate and help you understand the issues that may need to be considered, but I do not advise either of you what you should do or what outcome you should accept.
Where legal advice is needed, I will encourage you to obtain independent advice from a solicitor.
I am also a non-practising solicitor, but when I am acting as your mediator, my role is as an independent family mediator rather than as a solicitor for either of you.
What Happens Next?
Step 1 – Complete the Participant Questionnaire
If you would like to arrange a MIAM, the first step is to complete the Participant Questionnaire. This gives me some initial information about your circumstances before we arrange your appointment.
Step 2 – Attend your individual MIAM
Your MIAM is a private, one-to-one meeting where you can explain your situation, understand your options and consider whether family mediation may be suitable.
Step 3 – Decide Whether to Proceed with Mediation
If mediation appears suitable and you both wish to proceed, I will explain the next steps and how the mediation process will work.
Step 4 – Work Through the Issues
Depending on your circumstances, mediation can help you work through arrangements for children, finances, property, pensions and other practical issues arising from your separation or divorce.
Not Sure Where to Start?
​You may know that you need some support but still be unsure whether a MIAM, family mediation or one-to-one divorce consultancy is the right place to begin.
If you are not sure which service you need, you are welcome to send me a brief message. I can help you identify the most appropriate starting point.
Ready to Book a MIAM?
If you are ready to arrange your MIAM, please complete the Participant Questionnaire. This gives me the information I need before arranging your individual appointment.
Assistance with Fees
Family Mediation Voucher Scheme
Divorce Nicely participates in the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme.
If your mediation involves arrangements for children, you may be eligible for a contribution of up to £500 per family towards the cost of eligible mediation sessions. The scheme can also apply where financial matters are being discussed alongside a dispute about children.
There is no means test for the voucher scheme. The voucher does not cover the cost of your MIAM, and availability must be confirmed when you are ready to proceed with mediation.
If your case appears eligible, I can explain the scheme and arrange the application process for you.
Legal Aid for Family Mediation
Divorce Nicely does not provide legally aided family mediation.
If you think you may qualify for legal aid, I recommend checking your eligibility and considering a family mediation provider who offers legal aid before booking privately.
If one person qualifies for legal aid, this may also cover the other person’s MIAM and first mediation session. If you are eligible for legal aid yourself, funding may cover your MIAM and mediation sessions.
What Clients Say About Divorce Nicely
Reassurance from clients who have taken the first step
“Dear Cathy, thank you so much for all your time and hard work on our case. It hasn’t been easy, but you have made it very clear what we have needed to do. Thank you again. ED” Deal
I greatly appreciate Cathy’s commitment to sticking to the timeline and ensuring everything proceeded as planned. The thorough explanations, delivered in a calm and clear manner, were especially valuable and made the entire process much easier to understand and navigate.” MCB, Spain
You Do Not Have to Work Everything Out Before Asking for Help
If you are separating or divorcing in East Kent, you do not need to have all the answers before taking the first step.
If you are unsure whether you need a MIAM, family mediation or one-to-one divorce consultancy, you are welcome to ask a question first.
If you are ready to arrange a MIAM, please complete the Participant Questionnaire and I will be in touch to arrange your individual appointment.
FMC Accredited
Member of Resolution
Law Society Accredited
Monday to Friday:
9.30am-8.00pm
Saturday:
9.30am-1.30pm appointments only
Sunday: Closed