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Mediation for families in Barking and Dagenham
Barking and Dagenham has changed faster than almost anywhere in London: the Becontree estate, Barking Riverside and thousands of new flats along the river have brought young families from every part of the world alongside households who have been here for generations. Separations here are often about a council or housing-association tenancy, a car, debts and the children – not pensions and property portfolios – and mediation is priced for that.
A MIAM costs £125 per person; where children are involved the Government voucher covers up to £500 of the joint sessions, which is a good part of them. Cases from the borough are heard at the East London Family Court in Canary Wharf, which expects a MIAM first. We hold them online within days and see people in person in Barking or Dagenham by appointment, in a private, neutral room.
The family court for Barking and Dagenham
- Court
- East London Family Court
- Address
- 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD
- Opening times and directions
- Official court page on GOV.UK →
Which court hears your case depends on where the children live, and the court confirms it when you apply. Before a C100 for children or a Form A for finances it expects a MIAM first, and our certificate is accepted at every family court in England and Wales. If proceedings have already started, mediation can run alongside them.
What it costs
The same published fees wherever you live. No registration fee and no hourly clock.
| What | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIAM, online | £125 per person | An hour on your own with the mediator. Your ex has theirs separately. |
| MIAM, in person | £150 per person | By arrangement, in Barking or Dagenham or nearby. |
| Urgent MIAM | £160 per person | Same or next working day, where a court date will not wait. |
| MIAM certificate | £35 | Only where you need one for court. Sent within 48 hours. |
| Joint session | £180 per person | 120 minutes. Usually two to four sessions. |
| Family Mediation Voucher | up to £500 per family | Towards joint sessions where children are involved. Taken off your invoice. |
How it works
- A free 15-minute chatTell us what is going on. We tell you honestly whether mediation could work.
- Your MIAMAn hour with the mediator. If both of you want to go ahead, we book the first joint session.
- Joint sessionsOnline or in Barking or Dagenham by arrangement. Same room or separate rooms – your choice.
- A written recordA Parenting Plan or financial Memorandum of Understanding. It is not itself a court order; a legal adviser can turn it into one where needed.
More on children, money and property and the MIAM. Mediation is offered in English, Bengali and Hindi, and Portuguese is available in house for an additional £60 per hour. Other languages, including Arabic, Punjabi, Urdu and Somali, can be arranged with an interpreter at an additional cost. Mediation in your language →
“Tawhid was patient, professional and truly excellent. He made us feel comfortable throughout, listened equally to both sides, and offered thoughtful guidance toward our parenting goals.”
Questions people in Barking and Dagenham ask
We only have a council tenancy – is mediation still worth it?
Yes. Who stays in the tenancy, how it is transferred and how the children's time is shared are exactly the things that end up in court otherwise, and a mediated Parenting Plan is quicker and far cheaper than a C100 application.
Which court covers Barking and Dagenham?
The East London Family Court at Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf. It expects both of you to have attended a MIAM before most applications.
Is the Government voucher available?
Yes. Where your case involves arrangements for children, the Family Mediation Voucher gives up to £500 per family towards joint sessions. It is applied to your invoice, so you pay the difference.
Nearby
We also work with families in Ilford, Romford & Havering, Newham, Redbridge, East London, and online anywhere in England and Wales. All areas →
Talk to a mediator about Barking and Dagenham
A free 15-minute chat is the quickest way to find out whether mediation could work for you.