If, during the separation, difficulties grow over the head and agreement on issues related to the upbringing of the child seems impossible, family mediation comes to the rescue. In the course of family mediation, an attempt is made to conclude a workable agreement based on the child’s well-being, which both parents respect and therefore adhere to.

The family mediation service as such is offered by both private conciliators and family mediators who directly

perform the state-funded family mediation service. The latter are colloquially known as „state family mediators“, although they are not civil servants, but family mediators who provide services to the state based on an agency contract. 

The state-funded family mediation service is a new public service offered by the state from 01.09.2022, which is intended for separated or separating parents of a joint minor child or children who have not been able to agree on the child’s life arrangements. 

The mediation procedure of the state-funded family mediation service is conducted by a family mediator who, as a neutral party, helps parents mediate their thoughts and resolve differences. The family mediator has the appropriate training and professional knowledge for this. Chamber ensures the quality of the family mediation service by creating and developing family mediation professional ethics rules and the service quality standard and monitoring their fulfillment by members of the Chamber.

The state-funded family mediation service is free for parents. 

The state-funded family mediation service is offered in Estonian, Russian and English. 

The working areas of the state-funded family mediation service are Tallinn, Haapsalu, Kärdla, Kuressaare, Rapla, Jõgeva, Paide, Pärnu, Tartu, Valga, Viljandi, Võru, Põlva, Narva, Jõhvi and Rakvere.

The state-funded family mediation service is voluntary for parents and offers the opportunity to make agreements out of court and remain supportive parents even after separation.

If the parents have not managed to agree on the child’s life-organizing issues and they have not voluntarily turned to the state-funded family mediation service by going to court to resolve the dispute, the court will direct the parents to the state-funded family mediation service and suspend the court proceedings until the mediation procedure is completed.

The mediation procedure of the state-funded family mediation service is a faster, cheaper, more sustainable method for parents and takes into account the child’s well-being, within which agreements between parents are more effective than a court decision or a compromise reached in court.

When contacting the state-funded family mediation service, you must write to the address info@sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee