How much does mediation cost?

Submitted by Jenny on Thu, 13/10/2011 - 7:08pm

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Costs & Legal Aid

When assessing for legal aid/fee for mediation each party is treated as an individual - the legal aid eligibility / fee due is per person.

MEDIATION INFORMATION & ASSESSMENT MEETING (MIAM)

This initial meeting is FREE if you are:-

  • eligible for legal aid
  • referred by a solicitor as part of an application for legal aid
  • the "other party" or respondent to a case

Should none of these apply then there is a maximum fee of £60.00 (inc of VAT and all administration). Where a fee has been paid and legal aid applies to the second party any fee paid for MIAM will be refundable - the Legal Services Commission pays for both MIAM's where 1 party is eligible for legal aid.

You can attend this meeting on your own or together. If you attend on your own and wish to consider mediation as a way forward your former partner/the other party will be offered an individual meeting too. When you both have agreed to engage with the mediation process we will then offer a first joint mediation appointment.

For issuing an FM1 form, confirming attendance at a MIAM, there is an administrative charge of £50.00 unless eligible for legal aid, when there is no charge. This form is only needed when making an application to Court.

MEDIATION

Legal aid is available for mediation if you are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Based Employment and Support Allowance or Guarantee Credit or are eligible following a means assessment.

For a means assessment for legal aid to take place at your initial assessment meeting your "gross family income" needs to be under £31,884pa. (April 2011)

You can see if you might be eligible for legal aid by clicking here and completing the Legal aid eligibility calculator.

For clients not eligible for a legal aid means assessment they can choose to be assessed for a subsidised fee. The level of fee due will be identified at the MIAM.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO SPREAD THE COST OF MEDIATION BY APPLYING TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS BY STANDING ORDER, THE LEVEL OF MONTHLY PAYMENT WILL BE AGREED WITH YOU PRIOR TO MEDIATION STARTING

If you are not eligible for legal aid and choose to be assessed for a subsidised fee you will pay on a scale between £60.00 and £187.50 per session (meetings last up to an hour and a half), the level of fee due is based on your disposable family income and the issues to be discussed.

If you choose not to be assessed for a subsidised fee the charge is £187.50 per session (meetings last up to an hour and a half) for mediation that relates to finance/property/children or £165.00 per session for mediation that relates to Child issues only.

The fees are payable per person, per session and are inclusive of VAT @ 20% and all our administration costs (letters, telephone calls, case notes, documentation etc.)

Where clients are eligible for legal aid for Family Mediation the Statutory Charge does not apply and legal aid is non contributory.

Involving children (CIM) in mediation does not incur additional costs as their meeting is covered by charitable donations.