“Merry Stressmas?” Mediation charity urges families to act now before festive clashes boil over

As Christmas approaches, NFM – the UK’s leading mediation charity – has issued its annual warning for separated families: act now before it’s too late.

While parents with established child agreements may find the holidays run more smoothly, for those recently separated, Christmas can quickly become a minefield. From who has the children on Christmas morning to disagreements over presents, even the smallest issues can trigger full-blown “yule” chaos when emotions are already running high.

To help families avoid a “cracker” of a Christmas clash, NFM is urging separating couples to take advantage of the Government’s Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which provides up to £500 towards mediation. The scheme can help resolve disputes before they escalate and potentially save families thousands of pounds in legal fees.

Sarah Hawkins, CEO of NFM, said: “We always see a sharp rise in enquiries at this time of year. Christmas is supposed to be a time for family, but for those going through separation, it can be incredibly stressful.

Between October and Christmas Day, we typically handle more than 12,000 phone calls and 2,400 referrals, with over 1,400 mediation sessions taking place — and 82% of these involve disputes over children and Christmas arrangements.”

According to the latest statistics, in January–March 2025 there were 20,947 sole divorce applications and 7,943 joint ones under the new and old legislation combined. Many of those couples are still going through the process, meaning they may not yet have childcare agreements in place — leaving Christmas wide open for disputes.

“We see the same tensions every year,” Hawkins added. “Who gets the children on Christmas Eve, who attends the nativity play, and when kids see extended family — these issues can all cause conflict. It’s no wonder emotions run so high at Christmas.”

With courts already stretched and unlikely to hear new cases before the festive break, mediation offers families a timely alternative.

“For most families, it’s simply too late to go to court before Christmas,” Hawkins explained. “Mediation is faster, more affordable, and it works. Nine out of ten families who come to us find a fair, amicable solution. Plus, children can even be part of the sessions, making sure their voices are heard.”

So before the bells start jingling and the family feuding begins, NFM is encouraging separated families to take action now — and avoid a “Merry Stressmas.”

For more information about mediation and how it can help, visit www.nfm.org.uk.