Child Arrangements
How family mediation helps parents agree on living arrangements, contact schedules, holidays, and schooling decisions.
Child Arrangement Mediation
When parents separate, one of the most important things to resolve is how your children will spend their time. Child custody mediation (more formally known as child arrangement mediation) helps you and the other parent reach practical, workable agreements about your children, without going to court.
What Child Arrangement Mediation Covers
- Where your children will live and how they will split their time between both parents.
- Contact schedules for weekdays, weekends, and overnight stays.
- Holiday arrangements including school holidays, Christmas, birthdays, and special occasions.
- Schooling decisions including choice of school, involvement in school events, and who receives school communications.
- Medical decisions including consent to treatment, vaccinations, and registration with a GP or dentist.
- Relocation disputes where one parent wants to move to a different area or country.
- Communication between parents, including handover arrangements and how day-to-day decisions are made.
Putting Your Children First
When parents separate, children are often caught in the middle. Mediation puts your children’s needs at the centre of every discussion, helping you decide together where they will live, how they will spend time with each parent, and how to handle the day-to-day decisions that matter.
Unlike court proceedings, where a judge makes decisions based on limited information, mediation gives you, the people who know your children best, the space to create arrangements that genuinely work for your family.
Shuttle Mediation
We understand that not everyone feels comfortable being in the same room or on the same call as the other party. We offer shuttle mediation, where you and the other parent are in separate spaces and the mediator moves between you. This can take place online or in person. Whatever feels right for you.
Child Inclusive Mediation
If appropriate, we can also offer child inclusive mediation, which gives older children a safe, age-appropriate space to express how they feel, without asking them to take sides or make decisions. This is not about putting your child in the middle. It is about making sure their voice is heard in a way that is comfortable and supportive.
MIAM for C100
If you need to apply to the court for a child arrangement order, you will need to complete a C100 form. Before you can submit a C100, you must attend a MIAM. Your mediator will sign the relevant section of the form after your MIAM.
The C100 form cost (court fee) is currently £263.
Related Guides
- What Is a MIAM? – Required before a C100 court application
- How Mediation Works – The step-by-step process
- Financial Mediation – If you also need to resolve financial matters
- £500 Voucher Scheme – Child disputes are eligible for the voucher
- Pricing – Session fees and payment options
Need help with child arrangements? Book a free 15-minute chat to talk through your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a child arrangement order?
A child arrangement order is a court order that sets out where a child lives, how much time they spend with each parent, and other arrangements such as holidays, schooling, and medical decisions.
Do I need a MIAM before applying for a child arrangement order?
Yes. You must attend a MIAM before submitting a C100 application to the family court, unless an exemption applies such as domestic abuse or urgency.
What is shuttle mediation?
Shuttle mediation is where you and the other parent are in separate rooms (or separate video calls) and the mediator moves between you. This is an option if you do not feel comfortable being in the same space as the other party.
Can grandparents apply for a child arrangement order?
Yes. Grandparents can apply to the court for a child arrangement order, for example to obtain contact with a grandchild. They will need to attend a MIAM first, and the process is the same as for parents.
What is child inclusive mediation?
Child inclusive mediation gives older children a safe, age-appropriate space to express how they feel about the situation. It is not about asking children to take sides or make decisions. Your mediator will discuss whether this is appropriate for your family.
Written by
Abdul Wahid
FMA trained family mediator, registered with the Family Mediation Council. Over 10 years of experience helping families and businesses resolve disputes through mediation.
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