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Your MIAM in London
A MIAM – a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting – is the meeting the court expects you to have attended before you apply about your children (form C100) or your finances (Form A). It is a private meeting between you and an accredited mediator, usually 45 minutes to an hour, and it is not mediation itself: nobody has to agree to anything, and your ex does not have to attend with you.
We hold MIAMs for people across London every working day, online, with in-person appointments available by arrangement in a private, neutral room. If you have a hearing date, an urgent MIAM can be arranged for the same or next working day. Where mediation is not suitable – or the other person will not take part – we say so and sign the certificate the court needs.
The family court for London
- Court
- Central Family Court
- Address
- First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP
- 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 a MIAM 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 London 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 London 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 →
“Incredibly supportive, professional and approachable. He explains complex matters in a clear, simple way, and his calm, reassuring approach made a challenging process feel far more constructive.”
Questions people ask about MIAMs in London
Do I need a MIAM before going to court in London?
Almost always, yes. Since April 2024 the family courts – including all the London family courts – expect both parties to have attended a MIAM before a C100 or Form A application, and can pause a case or order costs where someone has not. The exemptions are narrow: domestic abuse with evidence, genuine urgency, and a handful of others.
How quickly can I get a MIAM in London?
Usually within a few days. Urgent MIAMs, for a court deadline that will not wait, can be arranged for the same or next working day.
Does the certificate work at every London court?
Yes. The certificate is issued by an FMC-accredited mediator and is valid for four months, at the Central Family Court, East London, West London, Barnet, Croydon, Bromley and anywhere else in England and Wales.
Can I do the MIAM online instead of in person?
Yes, and most people do. An online MIAM is the same meeting and produces the same certificate. In-person MIAMs are available by appointment.
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 London, East London, North London, South London, West London, and online anywhere in England and Wales. All areas →
Talk to a mediator about London
A free 15-minute chat is the quickest way to find out whether mediation could work for you.