Legal Aid for Family Mediation

You may be able to get your mediation funded by Legal Aid — including your Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). Read this page carefully before booking, as the process is slightly different if you think you may be eligible.

If you think you may qualify for Legal Aid, please do not book online. We’ll guide you through the eligibility check at the bottom of this page, before any fees are taken.

What Legal Aid Can Cover?

If you are financially eligible, Legal Aid may fund:

Your MIAM (the first meeting with a mediator)
Mediation sessions, where both parties agree to participate
A contribution towards document preparation in some cases
The costs of the initial appointment and first mediation meeting for the other person if they are not eligible

Am I likely to be eligible?

Eligibility is based on your income and capital. You are more likely to qualify if you:

Receive means-tested benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, etc.)
Have a gross monthly income below approximately £2,657
Have savings and property below £8,000 (excluding your main home)

These figures are a guide only. The formal assessment is carried out by our Legal Aid partner — we cannot confirm eligibility ourselves

How it works if you may be eligible

1. Contact us first

Call or email us before booking anything. Tell us you think you may be eligible for Legal Aid.

2. Referral to our Legal Aid partner

We’ll introduce you directly to our Legal Aid partner, who will carry out a free financial eligibility assessment. This usually takes a few days.

3. If eligible — we book your MIAM at no cost to you

Once a Legal Aid certificate is confirmed, we’ll arrange your MIAM and any subsequent mediation sessions. You pay nothing upfront.

4. If not eligible — private fees apply

You can still book with us privately. No money will have changed hands during the eligibility check, so there’s nothing to lose by checking first. You may qualify for the Voucher Scheme.

Please do not book a MIAM online if you think you may be eligible for Legal Aid. We are unable to refund fees already paid if eligibility is confirmed afterwards. Always check first — it costs nothing and takes only a few days.