Clear pricing, VAT included
How much does a MIAM cost?
Our standard online MIAM is £138 including VAT (£115 + VAT) per person. An urgent MIAM, held the same or next working day, is £222 including VAT (£185 + VAT). For context, the Family Mediation Council’s 2025 survey of registered mediators puts a typical MIAM at around £150 per person nationally. If you qualify for legal aid, your MIAM is free.
Across England and Wales, MIAM fees typically range from around £90 to £200 per person. We are not the cheapest, and we explain below what the price reflects and what can be worth checking when you compare providers.
Last reviewed · 12 June 2026 · Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy
Prices shown per person, inc VAT · Free MIAMs delivered under our Legal Aid Agency contract
Our MIAM prices
Prices are per person and stated including VAT. Your MIAM fee covers the meeting itself; how the signed certificate is charged is set out just below the prices.
- Around one hour, by video call
- Named FMC-accredited mediator
- Signed certificate £66 inc VAT if you need it for court
- Clear next steps, whatever you decide
- Same or next working day
- For court deadlines and urgent matters
- Same hour, same standards
- Signed MIAM certificate included
- We hold a Legal Aid Agency contract
- Eligibility checked in about two minutes
- Covers your MIAM and certificate
- Can extend to mediation sessions
How the MIAM certificate is chargedNot everyone who attends a MIAM goes on to court, so on a standard MIAM the signed court form, often called the MIAM certificate, is charged separately at £66 inc VAT (£55 + VAT). You only pay for it if you need it to apply to court.
It is included automatically with an urgent MIAM, and it is free if you qualify for legal aid.
Legal aid applies to a standard MIAM. An urgent, same or next-working-day MIAM cannot be booked on legal aid, so if you qualify you would attend a free standard MIAM rather than a paid urgent one.
What the fee includes
The price you see is the price you pay, with no booking fee on top. Your standard MIAM fee covers:
| Included | Detail |
|---|---|
| The meeting itself | Around an hour with a named, FMC-accredited mediator, conducted to the FMC Standards. |
| The safety assessment | The structured screening for domestic abuse and safeguarding that forms part of every MIAM. |
| Written next steps | A clear outcome, whether that is mediation dates, a signed form, or signposting. |
| The signed certificate | Charged separately on a standard MIAM (£66 inc VAT). Included with an urgent MIAM, and free with legal aid. |
VAT is included in the headline figure because we think a price you can rely on is more useful than a lower number with tax added at the end.
How our price compares
MIAM fees in England and Wales generally sit between about £90 and £200 per person. Some online-only services and larger charities advertise lower headline prices, and there are good reasons a fee can be lower, for example a service that operates at high volume or does not charge VAT.
We are towards the middle to upper end, and we are comfortable with that. The fee reflects a full hour with a named, accredited mediator who can also handle your wider case if you go on to mediation, rather than a quick assessment from a rotating pool. Whether that is worth it is a fair question, and the honest answer is that it depends on what you want from the meeting.
When you compare providers, a few things can be worth checking, because a low headline price does not always mean a lower total:
| Worth checking | Why it can matter |
|---|---|
| Is VAT included? | A price “plus VAT” is 20% higher than it looks. Compare like with like. |
| Is the certificate extra? | Some providers include it, some charge separately. With us it is included on urgent and legal-aid MIAMs, or a £55 + VAT add-on with a standard MIAM. Check it is not hidden behind a low headline price. |
| Is the mediator named and FMCA? | Only an FMC-accredited mediator can sign court forms. You can verify ours on the FMC register. |
| Who conducts the meeting? | A named mediator who can carry your case forward, or an anonymous assessor you may not meet again. |
| Are there free routes? | You may not need to pay at all. Legal aid and the voucher scheme are covered below. |
Worth knowing before you go to courtIf you do apply to the family court, you will be asked to complete a form FM5, setting out what you have done to try to reach an agreement without a hearing. Attending a MIAM, and attempting mediation, is exactly the kind of step the court expects to see.
It can also protect your position. If the other party refuses to consider mediation without good reason, the court can take that into account, and may order them to pay some or all of your legal costs.
Why choose MIAM UK?
As one of the UK’s top-rated family mediation services, we try to make getting the support you need during separation or divorce as straightforward as possible.
- Book online, 24/7. Appointments can be booked online at a time that suits you, with same-day and urgent MIAM appointments often available.
- Urgent certificates available. If you need a signed court form or MIAM certificate urgently, we can often arrange this the same day, subject to eligibility and availability.
- Real people, real support. Our client support team offers a 24-hour phone messaging service, so your enquiry is picked up quickly by a real member of the team. You can also use our AI chat assistant at any time for instant answers to common questions.
- Fast invitation to the other party. Under Family Mediation Council standards, there is generally an expectation that the other person will be invited to consider mediation, unless you ask us not to or there are reasons it would not be appropriate. In most cases we contact the other party within 24 hours of your MIAM.
- £500 government mediation voucher. If mediation proceeds and your case involves arrangements for children, we may be able to apply for the government’s £500 Family Mediation Voucher Scheme towards the cost of your joint mediation sessions.
- Legal aid available. We are a legal aid provider. If you qualify, your mediation may be fully funded, making it free of charge.
- Mediator guarantee. Finding the right mediator can make all the difference. If you do not feel comfortable with your mediator after your MIAM, we will offer you a replacement MIAM with a different mediator, free of charge.
- Trusted nationwide. With appointments available online across England and Wales, experienced accredited mediators, and a commitment to resolving disputes constructively, we help thousands of families each year find a better way forward.
Ways to pay nothing, or less
Before you pay for a MIAM, it can be worth checking whether you qualify for help with the cost:
Legal aid. If you qualify, your MIAM is free, and so is mediation that follows. We hold a Legal Aid Agency contract and can check your eligibility in about two minutes. Free MIAMs with legal aid.
The £500 voucher scheme. If your case involves arrangements for children, the Ministry of Justice contributes up to £500 towards joint mediation sessions. We claim it on your behalf. How the voucher scheme works.
Ready to book? A standard MIAM is £138 inc VAT per person, conducted by a named, accredited mediator. Call 0330 999 0959 if you would like to check anything first.
Quick answers
MIAM costs: common questions
How much does a MIAM cost?
Our standard online MIAM is £138 including VAT per person. An urgent same or next-working-day MIAM is £222 including VAT. Across England and Wales, fees generally range from about £90 to £200. If you qualify for legal aid, your MIAM is free.
Is there a separate charge for the MIAM certificate?
On a standard MIAM, yes. The £138 fee covers the meeting itself; if you need the signed court form to apply to court, the certificate is £66 inc VAT (£55 + VAT). It is included with an urgent MIAM, and free if you qualify for legal aid. Because not everyone who attends a MIAM goes on to court, you only pay for the certificate if you need it.
Do both people pay for a MIAM?
Each person who attends a MIAM pays for their own, because each MIAM is a separate meeting. If only you attend, you pay only for yours.
Can a MIAM be free?
Yes, if you qualify for legal aid. We hold a Legal Aid Agency contract and can check your eligibility in about two minutes. A good number of people qualify, particularly after a separation has changed their income.
Why is your MIAM not the cheapest?
The fee reflects a full hour with a named, accredited mediator who can carry your case forward into mediation, rather than a brief assessment from a rotating pool. We include VAT and the signed form in the price. Lower headline prices can be genuine, and we would rather be clear about what ours covers than compete on the number alone.
Are there extra costs after the MIAM?
Only if you go on to mediation, which is charged separately, from £120 per hour per person, and may be covered by legal aid or the voucher scheme. The MIAM fee itself is complete in one payment.
Sources and further reading
- Ministry of Justice, Family Mediation Voucher Scheme
- Legal aid eligibility, GOV.UK
- Family Mediation Council, about the MIAM
Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK. MIAM UK is a trading name of Family Legal Ltd. Prices correct at 12 June 2026.