What’s the point of attending mediation?
Mediation offers a structured environment where you can discuss issues with the support and guidance of an impartial mediator. This can help alleviate any anxiety and provide reassurance during the process.
The mediation process empowers you and your ex-partner to maintain control over the outcomes and solutions that directly impact your lives. This is in stark contrast to the traditional court process, where decisions are imposed by a judge.
In most cases, mediation:
- Offers a structured environment where you can discuss issues with the support and guidance of an impartial mediator.
- Helps alleviate any anxiety and provide reassurance during the process.
- Tends to be quicker, less confrontational, and more cost-effective than going to court.
Court procedure rules
Before applying to the court for a child arrangement or financial order, you must attend a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM). This meeting, which involves you and a mediator, is not just a formality, but a powerful tool designed to provide you with the necessary information and assess whether mediation is a suitable option for your situation. It’s an opportunity for you to understand your options and make informed decisions.
There are exemptions to attending a MIAM, and you can contact the courts to discuss these. Failure to attend a MIAM without a valid exemption may affect how the court views the case and could lead to delays or additional costs.
Attending joint sessions of family mediation is highly encouraged by the family courts, and recent changes have seen the following:
- Any individual attending court proceedings will be sent an FM5 form to complete, which must be filed at court and sent to the other party. You can find out more about the FM5 form here.
- At court, you could be ordered to pay the other person’s costs if the judge feels you have unreasonably refused a way of resolving the dispute outside of court.
- Judges can now promote attendance of non-court dispute resolution, such as family mediation. Although they can’t force engagement, they can adjourn hearings to a later date, resulting in additional legal costs and time delays.
Funding for mediation
The government voucher scheme
Parents or guardians, regardless of their income, can receive a Government Voucher Scheme worth up to £500 towards the cost of joint mediation sessions where children are discussed. This initiative is part of a broader effort to encourage the use of mediation as a less adversarial and more cost-effective means of resolving family disputes.
TLC: Talk Listen Change can apply for this voucher on your behalf after we have received email consent from you and your former partner.
Legal aid for mediation
We also have a legal aid contract for anyone receiving benefits or who has a lower income. Read more about legal aid and mediation here.