Family Mediation — London: the calmer path before court

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

What mediation is

Family mediation is a process where a trained, independent mediator helps you and your ex-partner work out arrangements for children, money or property yourselves — instead of asking a judge to decide. The mediator doesn't take sides or impose a decision; they run structured, practical discussions. Agreements reached can be recorded and, if you both want, made binding by the court.

What a MIAM is — and why you'll hear about it

A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is a short first meeting with an accredited mediator to find out whether mediation suits your situation. You normally must consider a MIAM before applying to court for most child or financial orders (C100, Form A) — the application form asks you to confirm it, or to claim an exemption (for example where there has been domestic abuse, which is a recognised exemption).

Finding an accredited mediator in London

London has a large choice of mediators. Search the Family Mediation Council (FMC) register — the only list of mediators accredited to carry out MIAMs and the government voucher scheme:

FMC find-a-mediator search: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/

YourFamilyCase lists no single provider and takes no payment from mediators — choose from the register by location, availability and whether they offer legal-aid work.

Costs — the honest picture

MIAM: roughly £120 per person if you pay (varies by mediator and region).
£500 mediation voucher: for eligible child-arrangements cases, the government contributes up to £500 towards mediation sessions (not the MIAM). Only FMC-accredited mediators take part. Finance-only disputes don't qualify — but cases covering both children and money do.
Legal aid: still exists for family mediation. If you're eligible, it covers the MIAM and mediation sessions (with mediators doing legal-aid work). If one of you qualifies, the other can still get the £500 voucher. Check: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid

When mediation is NOT suitable

Mediation is voluntary and isn't safe or workable in every situation — notably where there is domestic abuse, coercive control, or an imbalance of power. A good mediator will screen for this at the MIAM. If that's your situation, you are exempt from the MIAM requirement and can apply to court directly; see our FL401 safety guide and the Refuge helpline 0808 2000 247. Use a safe device when researching these options — calls and browsing can be monitored. In an emergency call 999.

How it fits your family court case

Mediation can resolve everything without a hearing, or narrow the dispute so the court only decides what's left. Most families who complete mediation avoid court entirely.

Official links

FMC register: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/
Voucher scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/family-mediation-voucher-scheme
Mediation overview: https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce/mediation
Legal aid check: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory, takes no payment from any mediator, and is not affiliated with the FMC, HMCTS or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.