A plain English explanation of the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting required before most child arrangements applications in England and Wales, and who is exempt.
A MIAM is a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. It is a meeting with a trained family mediator, usually lasting around an hour, at which the mediator explains what family mediation is, assesses whether it is suitable for your situation, and provides a certificate confirming you have attended. In most cases, you must attend a MIAM before you can make a C100 application to the family court for a child arrangements order.
The MIAM exists because the family court strongly prefers disputes about children to be resolved by agreement between the parents, rather than through contested court proceedings. A MIAM gives each party an opportunity to consider whether mediation might help them reach agreement without going to court. The mediator does not decide anything and does not take sides. Their role is to explain the process and assess whether it is suitable given the circumstances of the case.
Attending a MIAM does not mean you have to go to mediation. If you attend and either the mediator decides mediation isn't suitable, or you decide you don't want to proceed with mediation, the mediator issues a certificate confirming you've attended, and you can then proceed with your court application.
You only need to attend your own MIAM to satisfy the court requirement. The mediator will typically invite the other party separately to their own MIAM appointment. If the other party refuses to attend or cannot be contacted, the mediator can still issue a certificate to you confirming attendance and noting that the other party did not participate.
Exemptions from the MIAM requirement are set out in Family Procedure Rules 2010, rule 3.8 and include:
If you are claiming an exemption, you tick the relevant box in section 4 of the C100. Courts can and do check exemption claims, so if you're relying on one it's worth being accurate about the basis.
Mediators who can conduct MIAMs and provide the certificate needed for a court application must be accredited family mediators. The Family Mediation Council's directory is the standard way to find an accredited provider in your area.
Legal aid is available to cover the cost of a MIAM if you qualify financially, even if you're not otherwise eligible for legal aid in family proceedings. Some mediators offer reduced fees for low-income applicants.
The MIAM certificate is a signed document from the accredited mediator. When you submit your C100, you include the certificate number in section 4. The court uses this to confirm you have satisfied the pre-application requirement.
Going through child arrangements proceedings without a solicitor is difficult, and the MIAM is often where the process starts to feel real. Access to Justice is built for people in exactly this position, it explains what each step involves and helps you understand what comes next. Try it free.
Can I be forced to go to mediation at a MIAM?
No. Attendance at a MIAM is required before most court applications, but participation in mediation itself is voluntary. The MIAM is an information and assessment meeting only — the mediator explains the process and assesses whether it's suitable, but decides nothing and takes no side.
How much does a MIAM cost?
Costs vary between providers, but many charge between £100 and £150 for an initial MIAM appointment. Legal aid is available to cover MIAM costs for those who qualify financially, regardless of whether they qualify for wider family law legal aid. Some mediators also offer reduced fees for low-income applicants.
What if the other parent is abusive and I'm scared to attend mediation with them?
At a MIAM you meet the mediator alone, not with the other party. If domestic abuse is a factor, the mediator will take that seriously as part of their suitability assessment. If you have evidence of domestic abuse, you are likely to qualify for a MIAM exemption and can proceed directly to a court application.
What if I can't get a MIAM appointment quickly enough?
In urgent situations, the MIAM requirement can be bypassed. If there is a genuine and immediate risk to a child or to your safety, the urgency exemption allows you to proceed to a court application without first attending a MIAM.
Does attending a MIAM commit me to anything?
No. Attending a MIAM has no legal consequences beyond satisfying the pre-application requirement. It doesn't limit what you can say in court proceedings, and it doesn't mean you've agreed to mediate. What is discussed at the MIAM is confidential and is not reported to the court.
Does the mediator report anything back to the court?
No. What is discussed at a MIAM is confidential. The mediator only provides a certificate confirming attendance, or noting non-attendance by the other party. The content of the discussion is not disclosed to the court, and attending does not limit what you can later say in proceedings.
This article provides legal information about child arrangements proceedings in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a qualified solicitor.
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