We can normally arrange your first appointment within a matter of days of you contacting us or, if urgent, possibly even the same day. The meeting takes around 20-30 minutes. It gives you an opportunity to find out how mediation works and to decide, with the mediator, whether this process is right for you. We discuss how many sessions you may need, how much it will cost and consider whether you might get legal aid to pay for mediation. The mediator can also give you information about other services that provide help and support and other options you might have to resolve matters. If you are willing to mediate, we will contact the other person and, if appropriate, invite them to a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).
Please note that if either person is unwilling to mediate or the mediator deems the case unsuitable for mediation, we can also issue the appropriate certificate (formerly the FM1 but now part of the C100 or Form A forms) which will be required if you decide to make an application to court. Not all mediation practices are able to issue these certificates.