Mediator plea to separating couples

Separating couples have been urged to consider third-party mediators in a bid to avoid "traumatic" courtroom battles at a time when the number of broken marriages is expected to peak.

The post-Christmas period sees enquiries about separation and divorce soar, with the first working day in January dubbed "Divorce Day" by the legal sector, said the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Last year, searches for divorce on the department's website nearly doubled in January.

The Government said it would pump a further £10 million into mediation services, which on average save publicly-funded clients £3,500 and take a quarter of the time.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/mediator-p...