{"id":349359,"date":"2026-06-23T08:18:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T06:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/palomazabalgo.com\/diccionario-juridico\/mediacion-familiar\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T15:56:19","slug":"family-mediation","status":"publish","type":"conceptos_juridicos","link":"https:\/\/palomazabalgo.com\/en\/legal-concepts\/family-mediation\/","title":{"rendered":"Family mediation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Family mediation: what it is, how it works and when to use it<\/h2>\n

Family mediation<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the most effective\u00a0appropriate dispute resolution methods (MASC, by its Spanish acronym)<\/strong>\u00a0in family law. It is a\u00a0voluntary, out-of-court process<\/strong>\u00a0in which an impartial and qualified third party \u2014the\u00a0mediator<\/strong>\u2014 helps the parties communicate constructively so that they themselves reach lasting agreements, without a judge imposing the solution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is family mediation?<\/h2>\n

Unlike court proceedings, in family mediation the parties\u00a0do not delegate the decision to a third party<\/strong>: they build the agreement themselves, with the mediator’s help. The mediator neither judges nor provides legal advice to either party; their role is to facilitate dialogue, reduce tension and help find solutions that satisfy everyone involved, always with particular attention to the\u00a0best interests of the children<\/strong>\u00a0where there are any.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Legal framework<\/h2>\n

Mediation is governed at state level by\u00a0Law 5\/2012, of 6 July, on mediation in civil and commercial matters<\/strong>. In addition, most autonomous communities have their own\u00a0family mediation laws<\/strong>\u00a0regulating mediation services and the professional regime of mediators in their territory.<\/p>\n

Its role has been reinforced by\u00a0Organic Law 1\/2025, on measures for the efficiency of the Public Justice Service<\/strong>: since it came into force, using an\u00a0appropriate dispute resolution method (MASC)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014such as mediation\u2014 has become, as a general rule, a\u00a0procedural requirement<\/strong>\u00a0before filing certain civil claims. In other words, before litigating it is usually necessary to show that an out-of-court solution was attempted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Key features<\/h2>\n