MIAMs and mediation

About a 5-minute read

In short

Before you apply to court about your children, you normally have to go to a MIAM: a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.
A MIAM is one meeting with an accredited mediator to see if mediation could work. It's not mediation itself.
There are exemptions, including domestic abuse and genuine urgency.
The government's £500 Family Mediation Voucher is funded for 2026–27 for eligible children cases.

What happens at a MIAM

You meet a mediator, in person or by video, usually on your own. They'll explain how mediation works, check whether it's safe and suitable, and talk through other options. If mediation isn't suitable, or the other parent won't take part, the mediator signs the part of the C100 form that confirms you attended. You then have 4 months to apply to court.

Cost

Prices vary between mediators. A MIAM is often around £90 to £150 per person. If you get legal aid, the MIAM and mediation are free. The mediator can check whether you qualify.

The £500 voucher

The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme gives up to £500 towards mediation costs for eligible cases about children. It's paid straight to the mediator, and it's been funded for the 2026–27 financial year. Ask the mediator whether your case qualifies. They apply for it, not you.

Exemptions

You don't need a MIAM if one of the exemptions applies. The main ones are:

Domestic abuse, with evidence of the kind listed on the C100 form
Child protection concerns, such as an ongoing local authority investigation or child protection plan
Urgency, for example a risk to a child's safety, or a real risk that a child will be taken abroad
Previous MIAM or mediation about the same issue within the last 4 months
Other reasons, such as no accredited mediator within 15 miles, or one party being in prison

The court checks exemptions carefully. If you claim one that doesn't apply, the court can send you to a MIAM and delay your case.

Is mediation worth trying?

Often, yes. It's quicker, cheaper and less stressful than court, and arrangements you agree yourselves tend to last longer. Since April 2024, judges have stronger powers to pause a case and ask parents to try mediation or another way of resolving things, so being open to it also looks good.

Mediation isn't right where there's been domestic abuse or serious control, or where you'd feel unable to speak freely. A good mediator will check this with you.

Finding a mediator

Use the Family Mediation Council's find a mediator tool. Check they're accredited and authorised to sign court forms.

This guide is general information about private children cases in England and Wales, checked in October 2026. It isn't legal advice for your situation. Rules and fees change, and every case is different. If you're unsure, ask the court, or speak to a solicitor. Some parents qualify for legal aid, especially where there's domestic abuse.