MIAM is an expert advice session with an authorised and trained family mediator. You’ll attend because there is some kind of issue or dispute that has arisen after family separation. This might be different points of view about how your children’s time is spent, or fairly splitting finances so you can both move on with your life. You’ll finish the session understanding your options and having a plan in place to resolve the dispute. Your mediator will conduct a thorough assessment during the session so they can provide advice that is tailored to your situation and needs. At the end of the session, you’ll feel confident in taking the next steps to improve the situation. A common outcome is to agree to let the mediator contact the other person in the dispute, and to see if they are willing to work with the mediator to resolve the issue.
MIAM is a legal term standing for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.
Since 2022, a MIAM must be attended individually (rather than together with your ex-partner, or whoever you're in dispute with). This is because we need to understand your individual needs and experience so we can best advise you. After a careful assessment in your MIAM, it might be that an application to court to necessary - we will advise if this is our view. Your MIAM is a private and confidential meeting, and we’ll not share anything with the other person in the dispute without your express permission.
Only government-authorised and fully trained mediators can deliver a MIAM. The regulating body is called the Family Mediation Council (FMC), and all Online Mediation mediators are authorised and regulated by the FMC.
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What is the benefit of an ‘Online’ MIAM?
‘Online’ means you will attend your MIAM session by video-call. You can join your session from wherever you choose, and use a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Having a WIFI connection is advisable, although most smartphones can handle a video-call using mobile data. Most people find it more convenient and less stressful to attend online, rather than having to plan a journey to an office and spend extra time on travel. We will organise the video-call, and help you if you have any technical issues on the day. You are welcome to call us if you have any questions about how it works.
What are the April 2024 MIAM changes?
Changes to the law in April 2024 affected MIAMs. The changes made it much harder to bypass a MIAM and apply straight to family court. For example, some reasons for not attending a MIAM were removed. This is partly because it is now convenient for everyone to attend a MIAM online by video-call. The changes showed that the family court strongly prefers people to make all efforts to resolve problems before applying to court, including by attending a MIAM session to get help from an expert mediator. If you think you’ll need to apply to family court, but haven’t attended a MIAM yet, do get in touch.
Is a MIAM required in every situation?
The MIAM session is about giving you the information and tools to solve disputes. If your own direct discussions are working well and you are able to find agreement, you might not need a MIAM (although you are still welcome to book a session if you have questions or would like expert help). If direct discussions have become too difficult or communication has broken down completely, a MIAM is the natural next step. A professional mediator may be able to restore helpful communication and help you reach an agreement, quickly and affordably. From a legal point of view, a MIAM is necessary before applying to court, unless you are exempt for limited reasons related to domestic abuse.
What happens before a MIAM?
Your mediator will organise the video-call and you’ll receive a link by email to join the session. You can join on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Your mediator will want to discuss the topics most important to you, so you may want to note down the main points or problems for discussion and bring your list to the session. We will not contact the other person in the dispute before meeting you, as this isn’t always appropriate and we want to understand your situation thoroughly first. We know it’s daunting talking about sensitive issues and it is natural if you feel a little anxious before your MIAM. Our professional mediators are experts and will support you in the meeting, and we’ll take things at your pace.
If you have any questions, contact us - we’re here to help.
What happens after the MIAM?
It depends on what you and your mediator agree is best. Usually, your mediator will contact the other person in the dispute. But sometimes this isn’t appropriate, as you may wish to use the information we’ve given to continue you’re own discussions. In some exceptional situations, it may be best to apply to court. We will provide you advice and support so you can make an informed decision.
I don’t wish to attend a MIAM. What options do I have?
There are other options available to resolve a dispute, such as trying to reach an agreement yourself. Or a friend or family member who you both trust can try to help with communication. You can also instruct a solicitor to advocate for you, for example by writing letters to the other person (or their solicitor if they have one). It is unlikely that you’d be able to apply to family court without having attended a MIAM. Most people find the MIAM helps them understand their options and come up with an informed plan to resolve the dispute.
What happens during a MIAM?
Your trained mediator will guide you through an assessment, sensitively asking about the issues that need resolving. While the session is not counselling, your mediator will want to know how you are feeling and coping. Your mediator will also need to ask if you have experienced any domestic abuse so they can guide you appropriately. They will then provide specific guidance and advice for you as an individual. This will include details of the options you have to resolve matters, and you can ask any questions at any point in the session. The video call usually lasts around 45 minutes, and it is private and confidential. If you agree for the mediator to contact the other person, you'll discuss how this is to be done and when you can expect an update from the mediator. It is OK to have someone with you for moral support, but please let the medaitor know they are present with you, and they will also need to keep the discussion confidential.
How much is a MIAM?
At Online Mediation a MIAM session costs £95. There is no VAT to add, so this is the total price you pay for a MIAM with one of our fully regulated and trained mediators. According to the regulator (the Family Mediation Council) the average price for a MIAM is £120. While we acknowledge that £95 is a significant amount of money, we keep our costs as low as possible. If you find lower prices for a mediation business at our level of experience, we’d love to know, so please do get in touch.
What other costs are involved?
If you want a mediator to sign a court form (such as C100 or Form A) to say you’ve been to a MIAM, we charge £20.
For comparison, the industry average for a court form is £50, and can be as high at £90.
We don’t charge for contacting your ex-partner (or whoever is involved in the dispute) and seeing if they will agree to do mediation. We charge £120 an hour if you both go forward to a joint mediation session. If you are discussing children, we can claim the £500 Mediation Voucher for you. This is government funding that is available for everyone (not just those on benefits or a low income). The voucher gives you just over 2 hours of mediation for free. We claim the Mediation Voucher funding for you, there’s nothing you need to do. Unfortunately, the Mediation Voucher doesn't cover the cost of your MIAM, so you'll still need to pay £95 for your MIAM.
If you qualify for Legal Aid, you may receive further free mediation. Online Mediation does not receive Legal Aid, so you will need to enquire with another service if this applies to you or your ex-partner.
Questions about the Mediation Voucher, or something else? Please contact us today:
Looking to book a MIAM? Call us, or book through our website:
If you have any questions about the MIAM, or anything to do with a difficult family separation, call or message us in confidence: