CONFLICT RESOLUTION: MEDIATION, MENTORING & COACHING
For when families face loss and legacy
1: Choose the Mediator for your Inheritance or Family Business Dispute
Do you prefer a mediator for your inheritance dispute who is knowledgeable in that area of law? It's not necessary for facilitative mediation, but it can help. I am a contentious probate consultant solicitor with many years experience of Will disputes.
It's becoming common practice when suggesting mediation to the other party to your dispute to offer three mediators and ask the other party to choose one of the three. The idea is that then no-one has an advantage over the other.
If you are not legally represented and want me to introduce mediation to the other side, I have paperwork that I use to do that. Please ask.
You can check my availability on-line. Either party can secure a date (that can be moved later) while sorting out other logistics.
Mediation Steps
2: Choose the date for the Mediation of your Dispute
I suggest choosing a date at least 14 days in advance.
Most of the disputes I mediate concern:
- 1975 Act financial provision claims
- Will validity claims (often with caveats in place)
- planning around business succession or elder care
These usually complicated disputes often come with high emotions. These mediations should not be rushed.
We need time for pre-mediation calls, paperwork exchange and general logistics.
I aim for a quick and easy admin process using online tools securing dates, payments and signing the paperwork.
3: Choose the venue for your mediation (usually juggled with step 2)
If you have decided to mediate your inheritance dispute or family business dispute online then, this step is easy.
If you have opted for an in person mediation for your Will dispute / family business dispute, then co-ordinating a venue alongside everyone's availability dates can be a tough gig.
I aim to help by the ability to secure a date with a small deposit (which can later be moved subject to availability).
I have access to some rooms at discounted rates, and can recommend rooms that have worked successfully in the past. Please ask for my help if wanted.
My In-Person mediations of Inheritance Disputes are usually in Manchester, Sheffield, Stockport and the Peak District, but I can be seen mediating in London and the South. I'm happy to travel.
4: Paperwork for Your Inheritance Mediation
Every inheritance dispute or family business dispute needs some paperwork for us to use on the day.
But it need not be much. I'll learn far more about the dispute through our pre-mediation calls than a lever-arch file of paperwork.
Most contentious probate mediations involve a Mediation Statement (some lawyers prefer the term 'Position Statements').
It's ideal for these to be sent to me at least four days before your mediation, and definitely before our pre-mediation calls. Most now send paperwork electronically, but I can work with a paper copy if preferred.
4: Pre-Mediation Calls before Mediation of Inheritance Disputes
Once you're booked in, we'll arrange the very important pre-mediation calls.
If you've opted to mediate your Will dispute on-line then part of that call will be to ensure you are comfortable with the tech, and part will be to begin exploring the dispute a little before the mediation day.
If nerves have set in, I'm hopeful that after the pre-mediation calls, everyone will be more relaxed and prepared for what is essentially a super-productive conversation.
During these calls, we’ll chat confidentially about the upcoming mediation. We’ll cover logistics as well as what you’d ideally like to get from the day. Most likely this will be done on Zoom, but we can chat on the phone if preferred.
5: The big day: Mediation of the Dispute
The mediation takes the format you, the participants, prefer. In my experience, since emotions usually run high in contentious probate mediations, then it's far more usual to begin in separate rooms.
You will be asked prior to your mediation whether you wish to begin in a 'joint session' or in private sessions. Unless all agree to a 'joint session' we begin in separate rooms, with the option for a 'joint session' whenever it is wanted, and sometimes that is never.
As mediator, unless a joint session is wanted, I will shuttle between the participants rooms in what I call a 'meeting bubble'.
All meeting bubbles are confidential to the people in that bubble. We’ll get curious about possibilities. I'll only ever share in another 'meeting bubble' what has been expressly agreed I can share.
Please be assured that shuttle mediation is not about simply relaying messages between parties like a courier.
Mediation is a structured process where the mediator actively facilitates understanding and compromise.
I do this by helping each side clarify their positions, explore interests, and move toward resolution.
6: Signing any Agreement Compromising your Inheritance Dispute
Any agreed terms must be put in writing to be legally binding on the day of your mediation. The day is confidential and without prejudice so if you fail to document your agreement, you cannot rely upon what was agreed later.
As a neutral mediator, I cannot draft your agreement. Whether you have legal advisors in attendance, on stand-by or you are acting in person, please give the mechanics of what an agreement might look like prior to the day of mediation of your inheritance dispute. This will greatly lower the pressure valve on the day. Agreements can take hours to draft from scratch.
If you have agreed terms, you are now free to look forward, maybe grieve properly, or celebrate a loved one's life.
What my clients said recently
Dispute with Executor
"Gayle showed great expertise, empathy and advice. She explained our options very clearly and also advised but left us in control of each decision. She went above and beyond. We would highly recommend Gayle’s services to anyone in need. Thank you!"
P Haworth, January 2025
Will validity Dispute
"I have already recommended Gayle to friends. In a dispute that was a rollercoaster of emotions and fears, Gayle was our rock, a combination of caring and professionalism that always reassured us and eventually gave us the outcome we hoped for.”
P Wright, December 2024
1975 Act Dispute
"Gayle gave an excellent overall level of service. We are very grateful for the help she gave us. Without her tenacity, it would have cost us a lot more."
S Warburton, July 2024
Contact Camel
Mediation
Telephone: 0161 531 8861
E-mail: gayle@camelmediation.com
Based from Stockport, Cheshire