Family Mediation System

The Family Mediation System (SMF) exists to mediate and help reach an agreement between the parties in any dispute of a family nature such as:

• Regulation, alteration and non-compliance with the exercise of parental responsibilities;

• Divorce and separation;

• Conversion of separation into divorce;

• Reconciliation of separated spouses;

• Allocation and modification of maintenance, provisional or definitive;

• Deprivation of the right to use the surnames of the other spouse and authorisation to use the surnames of the ex-spouse;

• Allocation of the family home;

• Maintenance and other care for family members (ascendants and descendants);

• Divisions in the context of divorce or death.

The procedures can take place in person or digitally (using real-time conversation platforms with sound and image transmission).

The Family Mediation System is available all over Portugal.

How much does it cost?

Use of the SMF costs €50 for each party, regardless of the number of mediation sessions.

This fee may not be payable when the parties are referred to mediation by a judge or child protection commission in cases involving children, or when legal aid is granted to one or both parties.

Advantages of the Family Mediation System

• Safety - the SMF is a public service promoted by the Ministry of Justice, provided by professionals with specialised training in family mediation;
• Confidentiality - disclosure of the content of Family Mediation sessions is forbidden and privacy is safeguarded;
• Informality - the whole process takes place with close and simplified contact between the mediator and the parties;
• Effectiveness - Family Mediation has a high percentage of agreements reached;
• Speed - the Family Mediation process lasts, on average, between 2 and 3 months;
• Low cost (50 euros per mediator) or no cost.