Mediation Process

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.

If both of you are willing to mediate, we set up joint meetings. We cannot predict exactly how many meetings you may need however, it is usually;

1-2 sessions: for child only cases (cases to discuss arrangements for children such as contact, residence, parental responsibility and child maintenance).
3-4 sessions: for financial cases (for sorting out the house, savings, debts, pensions).
3-5 sessions: for “all issues” cases (sorting out both the children and the finances).

You are both required to pay a fee for each session, unless you qualify for Legal Aid.

Please refer to our costs section of the website for more information.

At the end of mediation, we can prepare a summary setting out the proposals you have made (called a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU), which is a legally privileged document. In financial cases, we can also prepare an Open Financial Summary (OFS). If a case breaks down, depending on when/how the case concludes, the mediator may decide that it is more appropriate to draft a summary letter, setting out the position reached. We charge for summaries and/or summary letters. It is a one off fixed fee, payable on or before the first session (unless you are eligible for legal aid).The summary is to enable you to take legal advice and to assist your solicitor when drafting the legally binding agreement (if appropriate).