Family Mediation You Can Trust
All sessions are conducted with care, confidentiality, and a focus on resolution.
Take the First Step Toward Peaceful Resolution
You don’t have to face family challenges alone. Our mediation services are designed to help you reduce stress, avoid court, and make decisions that work for everyone involved. Whether you need to sort out childcare or finances, we’re here to guide you.
Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM)
Attending a meeting with a mediator will let you find out more about mediation and if it’s right for you. This is generally called a ‘Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting’ (MIAM) or ‘first meeting’. The MIAM usually lasts around 45 – 60 minutes. You and your ex-partner will have separate meetings with the mediator.
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 help you find other help and support services if you need them.
When should I go to a MIAM?
Mediation is often most effective when it takes place at an early stage, before the issues become big problems. It’s best to contact a mediator as soon as you and your ex-partner have come to terms with the separation and need help sorting out arrangements. You don’t need to see a solicitor first but if you do they should tell you about mediation. Even if you’ve been separated for a while or if your case has already gone to court, mediation can help to resolve any dispute you may still have. The law says that you must consider whether mediation can help you before you can take a case to court. This means you need to go to a MIAM unless special circumstances apply, like if your situation involves domestic violence or abuse.
Family Mediation Sessions
After the MIAM, if you all agree to try mediation, you will need to attend mediation sessions – usually 1.5 hours to 2 hours each. The length and number of sessions will depend on your situation and you can request that your mediation takes place in separate online rooms. Most of our mediation takes place online although face to face mediation can be requested in some West London areas.
When an agreement is reached, the mediator will write it down in a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ so that everyone is clear about what has been decided. Agreements made in mediation can be made legally binding by a court if both you and your ex-partner agree.
This is sometimes useful if arrangements are meant to run over a period of time, such as child maintenance payments, or if you want something a little more formal to help you both stick to your agreement. Some people going through mediation find it helpful to have legal support to advise them. Legal Aid may be available to help pay for this.
Child Only Mediation: Help to agree on living and contact arrangements in a calm, supportive setting, keeping the focus on what’s best for your child/ren, without the stress of court.
Property and Finance Mediation: We will help you reach fair agreements on money, property and assets after separation.
All Issues Mediation: Mediation to help you resolve both child arrangements and financial matters.
Child Inclusive Mediation
Where both parents and the child or children are in agreement, children will be consulted as part of the mediation by a family mediator, trained especially to work with children. It is good practice to engage children aged 10 and over in mediation, so that they can have their voice heard. Children however, are not responsible for making any decisions. Ultimately, it is the mediator’s decision whether child consultation is suitable. With the child’s consent, their voice will be shared in mediation with their parents. They have the choice to keep what they say confidential, between themselves and the mediator.
Child inclusive mediation at All Families Mediation is with a different mediator to that working with the parents. Consultations last around 45 minutes. Sometimes siblings wish to be seen together but they can choose to be seen separately.
Court forms
Court forms may be required if you cannot reach an agreement through mediation or either of you decides mediation is not right for you. In order to proceed to court, you will need the relevant court form/forms signed by an accredited Family Mediator. Apart from some valid exemptions, the court will expect you to have attended a MIAM and considered mediation or other forms of non-court dispute resolutions (NCDR) including arbitration, collaborative law etc.
Terms and Conditions
Payment, cancellation & refund terms & conditions
1. Full payment must be received by both parties at the time of booking MIAMS and joint mediation sessions to secure your appointment.
2. Appointments cancelled with 7 days notice or more, will be refunded in full. With 2 to 6 days notice, a 50% refund will be issued. Where less than 48 hours notice is received, no refund will be given.
3. In the event that one party does not show up to a joint mediation session, their payment for that session will be forfeited. The party who did show up will be refunded in full.
Take the First Step Toward Peaceful Resolution
You don’t have to face family challenges alone. Our mediation services are designed to help you reduce stress, avoid court, and make decisions that work for everyone involved — especially your children. Whether you need to sort out childcare, finances, or everything in between, we’re here to guide you.
👉 Book a MIAM Today
Let’s find the best way forward — together