what is it?

under the new protocol, before an applicant can make a private law application to the family court in relation to children or finances, they should first contact a family mediation service to arrange a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. 

all of our mediators are professionally qualified, trained and meet the requirements of both the Mediation Quality Mark and the College of Mediators. 

mediation works provides family mediation in Stoke, Stafford, Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Leicester, Crewe, Nantwich, Chester, Liverpool, St Helens, Southport, Knowsley and Manchester.

what will it cost?

for publicly funded clients there will be no charge.

mediation Information and Assessment meetings leading to mediation will be free of charge.

after the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting a decision may be made not to proceed with mediation. This can happen if either or both parties decide not to continue, or if the mediator decides continuation is unnecessary or inappropriate. In these cases, the mediator will issue an FM1 certificate which the applicant will need to file with the court application. The following charge will apply where an FM1 certificate is issued, this covers the cost of full assessment of suitability and all administration:

FM1 Assessment and Certification Process £105 + VAT

where an FM1 form is issued without an assessment of suitability being required we retain the right to charge a smal fee to cover our costs.

the court will normally expect all applicants to have complied with the protocol and will expect any respondant to have attended an Information and Assessment meeting if invited to do so.

if court proceedings are taken the court will wish to know at first hearing whether mediation has been considered by the parties and may refer the parties back to a mediation service before proceedings continue further.