Family Mediator Privacy Policy

Family Mediator is responsible for personal information collected through enquiries made to us, and for deciding how it is used. To ask a question about this policy, or to exercise a right described in it, please telephone 0330 010 0028. That is the only contact route we publish.

A mediator or other professional involved in a mediation may have separate responsibilities for records they hold, for example under their own professional obligations. If that applies to you, it should be explained when the mediation is arranged.

This site is a set of information pages. You cannot create an account on it, fill in a form or make a payment. The pages load their images from the website itself, use fonts already on your device and do not contain analytics, advertising or social media tracking code. The site does not set its own cookies, so we do not display a cookie banner.

As with most websites, the company hosting the site may automatically record technical information when a page is requested. This can include your IP address, the browser you use, the page you asked for and the date and time. Such logs are generally used to keep the site running and secure, and we do not use them to work out who you are.

Your browser may keep its own record of the pages you have visited. If you share a device and would prefer others not to see that you have been reading about family mediation, you can use a private window or clear your browsing history.

A telephone enquiry may involve your name, your number and the information you choose to share, such as the topic of your question and any date you are working towards. Your number may also be visible to us when you call, depending on your telephone settings and the telephone system in use.

Family matters are personal, and an enquiry can include details about your relationship, your children, your health, your safety or another person. Some of this is treated by law as special category information, and it needs particular care. You do not need to provide this kind of detail at a first enquiry. Please share only what is needed for your question at that stage, and do not read out bank or card details.

Mediation itself, if you choose it, may call for more information, such as financial documents or information relating to children. You will be told what is required and why at that point.

Conversations about family matters almost always involve other people. Before mentioning someone else, consider whether the detail is really necessary at this stage. Information about a child should be limited to what is needed for your question.

What you tell us in a private conversation will not automatically be passed to a former partner. Before going any further, ask how contact with another person would be handled, particularly if you have any concerns for your safety.

We share personal information only where there is a proper reason. That may include service providers who support our telephone or website systems, a mediator or colleague who needs it to deal with your matter, or others you have asked us to contact. Service providers are expected to protect the information and use it only for the purpose it was given.

Mediation discussions are treated as private, but privacy has limits. We may have to share information without your agreement where the law requires it, where a child or adult is at serious risk, or in connection with a serious crime. You will be told more about this before mediation begins.

Should any provider process information outside the UK, we would expect suitable safeguards to be in place, as required by data protection law.

We take sensible precautions so that personal information is not lost, misused or seen by people who should not see it. Neither computer systems nor telephone calls can be made completely secure, which is one more reason to avoid sharing unnecessary details during an enquiry.

Personal information is kept only while there is a good reason to hold it. The right period depends on what it is and why we hold it. Information about an enquiry that goes no further should not be kept for longer than is needed to deal with it. Records of mediation may need to be kept for longer, to meet legal, insurance or professional requirements. You can ask how long your information is likely to be kept.

Please ring us first if something about the handling of your information has troubled you, and we will look into it. You may also complain to the UK's data protection regulator at any time, and you do not have to come to us first.

This policy will be revised when our practices or the law change, and the date shown above records the latest revision. If the website later adds a feature that handles personal information in a new way, this policy should be updated to describe it.