What is a MIAM?
- Online Mediation
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Court rules state "It is a legal requirement to attend a MIAM before you apply to the family court (unless you have a valid exemption). You can attend a MIAM either in person or online."
MIAM stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.
A MIAM is a meeting with a authorised family mediator to discuss:
how family mediation might help
other options to resolve your dispute
if going to court is necessary
The MIAM is an individual meeting. The other person in the dispute must not be present at your MIAM.
MIAMs are regulated by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). The FMC state:
"The MIAM will give you an opportunity to tell the mediator about your situation, and the issues that need to be decided. The mediator will tell you about the mediation process and other options for reaching agreements.
"At the end of the meeting, the mediator will tell you whether your case is suitable for mediation, and you can decide whether you want to proceed with mediation or explore another option for resolving issues. The mediator can also give you information about other services which provide help and support."
"If you are not eligible for legal aid, the mediator will charge for the meeting. The cost will vary depending on your provider and where in the country they are based. As a guide, you can expect to pay about £120 per person for a MIAM."
Who is authorised to provide a MIAM?
MIAM sessions are regulated by the Family Mediation Council (FMC).
"Only mediators accredited by the Family Mediation Council can sign a court form to say you have been to a MIAM. An accredited mediator is known as “FMCA”."
You can confirm that your mediator is authorised to provide a MIAM by searching the FMC register online.
What are the exemptions from attending a MIAM?
Court rules state that there are circumstances in which attendance at a MIAM is not required:
"Who does not have to go to a MIAM
You will not usually need to go to a MIAM if one of the following applies:
you’ve been to a MIAM or tried other ways of agreeing without going to court in the last 4 months
you have evidence that you’re a victim of domestic abuse
you’re applying for a consent order
your children are at risk of harm, for example social services are involved in their care
you cannot go to a MIAM because of your location, situation or the mediator’s availability
you’re applying for a ‘without notice hearing’ (a hearing which happens without the other person being told)
the application is urgent, for example, you or your child are in danger"