Government scheme · England & Wales
The £500 family mediation voucher scheme
The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is a government scheme that puts up to £500 towards the cost of joint mediation where your case involves arrangements for children. It is not means-tested, so it does not depend on your income.
The voucher is for the joint mediation that can follow your MIAM, not for the MIAM itself. You do not apply for it yourself, we do, on your behalf, once both of you have attended your MIAMs.
Last reviewed · 12 June 2026 · Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy
A Ministry of Justice scheme, administered through the Family Mediation Council
Who can use the voucher?
The voucher is available where your mediation is about children. That includes:
| Eligible | Not covered by the voucher |
|---|---|
| Parents sorting out arrangements for their children, such as where they live and how time is shared. | Mediation that is only about money, such as property, pensions or maintenance, with no child element. |
| Grandparents and some other relatives seeking arrangements to see a child. | The MIAM itself, which is the meeting that comes before mediation. |
| Cases that involve both children and finances, where there is a genuine child element. | Cases where mediation does not go ahead after the MIAM. |
Because it is not means-tested, the voucher is open to people whatever their income. If you also qualify for legal aid, that usually comes first, since legal aid can cover your mediation in full.
How the voucher works, step by step
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You both attend a MIAM
Everything starts with a MIAM. You attend yours, and the other person is invited to attend theirs. The voucher cannot be claimed until both MIAMs have taken place.
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Mediation goes ahead on a child matter
If mediation is suitable, both of you are willing, and the case involves arrangements for children, you move on to joint sessions.
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We apply for the voucher
We make the application for the £500 voucher on your behalf. There is no separate form for you to complete.
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£500 comes off the cost of your sessions
The voucher is put towards your joint mediation. If your sessions cost more than £500, you pay only the balance.
The voucher starts with a MIAM. Book your MIAM online, and if mediation about children follows, we will sort the voucher out for you. Want to check your case qualifies first? Book a free 15-minute call.
Quick answers
The £500 voucher: common questions
How much is the family mediation voucher?
Up to £500, put towards the cost of your joint mediation sessions where the case involves arrangements for children. If your sessions cost more than £500, you pay only the difference.
Is the voucher means-tested?
No. Unlike legal aid, the voucher does not depend on your income or savings. It is available to anyone whose mediation case qualifies.
Do I have to apply for the voucher myself?
No. We apply for it on your behalf, after both of you have attended your MIAMs and mediation about children is going ahead. There is no form for you to fill in.
Can I use the voucher for financial mediation?
Only if there is a genuine child element to your case. The scheme is for mediation about arrangements for children. Mediation that is solely about finances, with no child matter, is not covered.
Does the voucher pay for the MIAM?
No. The voucher is for the joint mediation that can follow a MIAM. The MIAM itself is charged separately, unless you qualify for legal aid, in which case it is free.
Can I use the voucher and legal aid together?
If you qualify for legal aid, that comes first, because it can cover your mediation in full, so the voucher would not be needed. The voucher is most useful for people who do not qualify for legal aid.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK. MIAM UK is a trading name of Family Legal Ltd. Last reviewed 12 June 2026.