For accredited family mediation in the UK, the Family Mediation Council puts a MIAM (the first meeting) at around £120 per person, though this varies by region. A full course of mediation, usually two to five sessions for both parties combined, typically falls in the £700 to £2,500 range. Solicitor-led negotiation runs from around £2,000 per side for a straightforward settlement up to £10,000 or more; fully contested court proceedings can exceed £15,000 per side. These are guideline ranges; individual mediators and solicitors set their own prices.

Yes. If you qualify for legal aid you can have your MIAM and family mediation paid for. Legal aid for family mediation is means-tested. You can check whether you qualify on the official gov.uk legal-aid checker. If one party qualifies, the MIAM is also free for the other party.

Three things move it: how many sessions you need, whether you go hourly or buy a package, and where your mediator is based (London tends to be the top of the range). A couple with one or two clear issues can finish in two sessions; complex finances or contested child arrangements can take five or more.

A first guided session on Meedi8 is free. We are not an accredited family mediator and Meedi8 is not a substitute for formal mediation. We are a structured-conversation tool that helps people think through what they actually want to say. Some people use it on its own; others use it to walk into a paid mediation session better prepared.

The Family Mediation Council maintains a public directory at familymediationcouncil.org.uk. You can search by postcode and most accredited mediators publish their fees on their own websites.

Your safety comes first. In the UK call 999 in an emergency or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Family mediation is not appropriate where there is domestic abuse. An accredited mediator will assess this at the MIAM. Meedi8 does not screen for domestic abuse.