Background: A Loving, Balanced Upbringing

Penny’s parents separated when she was just four years old. Thanks to a shared parenting arrangement, she maintained strong, loving relationships with both her mum and dad. She split her time between their homes and was thriving socially, emotionally, and academically.

But when Penny turned 11, everything changed. Her mum was offered a job abroad, and relocation became a real possibility. While her mother saw it as a career step forward and a chance for new opportunities, Penny’s dad was deeply concerned. He feared that if Penny moved away, he would lose the close, irreplaceable bond they had built over the years.

The Challenge: Managing Parental Concerns Around Relocation

Penny’s dad wasn’t trying to block the move out of spite — he was scared. Scared of becoming a distant parent. Scared of losing day-to-day contact. And unsure how he could afford the cost of international travel to maintain regular connection with his daughter.

Rather than enter a prolonged legal battle, Penny’s parents agreed to try family mediation.

The Process: A Structured Conversation About the Future

With support from a trained mediator, Penny’s mum and dad were able to have an open and focused conversation about:

• Where Penny would live and attend school

• How often she could visit her dad in the UK (and vice versa)

• Holiday contact, including extended summer visits

• How the financial costs of travel would be shared, using existing child maintenance payments

The mediator helped both parents re-centre the conversation around Penny’s wellbeing, balancing the emotional impact of relocation with the importance of preserving parental bonds.

The Outcome: A Flexible Plan That Put Penny First

In just a few sessions, Penny’s parents reached an agreement:

• Penny would move abroad with her mum

• She would have regular, meaningful contact with her dad — including monthly visits and shared school holidays

• Travel costs would be covered using part of the existing child maintenance arrangements, easing the financial pressure on both sides

Through family mediation, both parents were able to prioritise co-parenting across borders in a way that kept Penny feeling supported and connected.