The short answer

MIAM stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. It is a short meeting with an accredited family mediator. In England and Wales most people must attend one before they can apply to family court for issues like child arrangements or financial matters after separation. The meeting usually runs around 45 minutes to an hour and is where the mediator decides, with you, whether mediation is the right next step.

Who runs a MIAM?

MIAMs are run by family mediators accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). Only an accredited mediator can conduct a MIAM that counts for court purposes. You can find one through the FMC directory.

When is a MIAM required?

In England and Wales you are normally required to attend a MIAM before you can apply to family court for most private family-law matters. This includes child arrangements (where children live, when they see each parent), specific issue orders, prohibited steps orders, and financial remedies on divorce.

The requirement is set out in the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (Part 3). It applies to the person making the application; the other party is invited but not legally compelled.

When is a MIAM not required?

A number of situations are exempt. The most commonly used exemptions include:

• Domestic abuse, with appropriate evidence.
• Child protection concerns or social-services involvement.
• Urgency (for example, risk of harm or imminent removal of a child).
• You have attended a MIAM, or another form of non-court dispute resolution, in the last four months.
• No FMC-accredited mediator is available within a reasonable distance.
• The other party has refused to attend, or not responded to the mediator’s invitation.

Whether your situation qualifies for an exemption is a legal judgment. An accredited mediator or solicitor can confirm. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, your safety comes first: in the UK call 999 in an emergency or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

How much does a MIAM cost?

The Family Mediation Council puts a MIAM at around £120 per person, though this varies by region and individual mediator. If you qualify for legal aid the MIAM is free, and if one party qualifies the MIAM is also free for the other party. You can check eligibility on the official gov.uk legal-aid checker.

What happens at the meeting?

The mediator explains how mediation works, asks about your situation, and assesses whether mediation is suitable. They will also screen for safeguarding issues including domestic abuse. Most MIAMs run for about 45 minutes to an hour. You usually attend on your own; if both parties want to proceed, joint mediation sessions come later as separate appointments.

What happens after the MIAM?

One of three things. You and the other party agree to try mediation, and the mediator schedules joint sessions. Or mediation is judged not suitable, in which case the mediator completes a MIAM certificate (Form FM1, or the MIAM section within a C100 for child arrangements or Form A for financial remedy) confirming this so you can proceed to court. Or only one party is willing to mediate, in which case the mediator can still complete the certificate so the willing party can apply.

If you have a MIAM booked and want to think through what you want to say in advance, the Meedi8 MIAM prep page walks through how to use a guided conversation to do that.

How Meedi8 helps you prepare

Private by design

About Meedi8

Meedi8 is a guided-conversation tool. We are not a Family Mediation Council (FMC) accredited mediator, we do not conduct MIAMs, and we are not a substitute for formal mediation.

For your MIAM you will need an accredited mediator from the Family Mediation Council directory. Nothing said to Meedi8 is legal advice.

Common questions about MIAMs

Got a MIAM coming up?

Try a free guided conversation to work out what you want to say before the meeting.