£500 Family Mediation Voucher Scheme

What Is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?

The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is a government-funded programme run by the Ministry of Justice. It offers a one-off contribution of up to £500 per family towards the cost of family mediation.

The scheme was introduced in March 2021 to help families resolve disputes outside of court, particularly as court backlogs grew following the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been extended and continues to be available, though vouchers are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis each financial year.

Who Is Eligible?

Not all cases qualify for the voucher scheme. To be eligible:

• You must attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting). Your mediator will assess whether your case is suitable for mediation and meets the eligibility requirements.
• Both parties must agree to take part in mediation. The voucher cannot be used if only one person attends.
• Your MIAM must have taken place on or after 26 March 2021.

Eligible Case Types

The following types of dispute are eligible for a mediation voucher:

• A dispute or application regarding a child (for example, child arrangement orders, contact, where a child lives).
• A dispute or application regarding family financial matters, but only where you are also involved in a dispute or application relating to a child.

What Is Not Eligible

• Cases that involve only financial matters without a child-related dispute are not covered by the scheme.
• You cannot claim a second voucher for a subsequent application about the same or different issues.

How Does the Voucher Work?

There is no application form to fill in and no physical voucher is issued. The process is straightforward:

1. Attend your MIAM. Your mediator will discuss the voucher scheme with you and assess whether your case is eligible.
2. Your mediator applies on your behalf. If your case qualifies, your mediator will submit the claim directly. You do not need to do anything yourself.
3. The voucher is paid to the mediator. Once all mediation sessions are concluded, the £500 is paid directly to the mediator. It is not paid to you.

As part of the process, you will be asked to confirm that:

• You have asked your mediator to apply for the voucher on your behalf.
• You have not already claimed a voucher under this scheme.
• You consent to your name, billing details, and basic case information being shared with the Family Mediation Council for the purposes of administering the scheme.

What Does the £500 Cover?

The voucher contributes up to £500 towards mediation sessions that take place after the initial MIAM. It is a one-off contribution per family, regardless of how many issues are being mediated.

The voucher does not cover:

• The cost of the MIAM itself (this must be paid separately).
• Legal advice or solicitor fees.
• Court application fees.

Whether the voucher covers the full cost of your mediation will depend on the rates charged by your mediator and how many sessions are needed. The voucher is a contribution towards the cost, not a guarantee that all fees will be covered. If the total cost of your mediation sessions exceeds £500, you will need to pay the difference. Some mediators offer reduced rates for people on low incomes or who are unemployed, so it is worth asking.

What About the MIAM Cost?

The MIAM is a separate cost and is not covered by the voucher. At BookMIAM, a MIAM costs £100 per person.

If you are eligible for legal aid, the MIAM is free. Legal aid can also cover the full cost of mediation sessions, so you may not need the voucher at all if you qualify.

Will the Voucher Cover All My Mediation Costs?

This will depend on the rates charged by your mediator and how many sessions are needed to reach an agreement. The £500 voucher is a contribution towards the cost, not a guarantee of full coverage.

At BookMIAM, mediation sessions cost £150 per person per session. Most cases need 2 to 4 sessions, meaning the total cost per person could range from £300 to £600. The voucher will cover a significant portion of this, but you may need to pay the difference if your case requires more sessions.

If one party is eligible for legal aid and the other is not, the non-eligible party can still claim a voucher. In this situation, the non-eligible party may also receive legal aid funding for their MIAM and first mediation session.

Can I Use the Voucher and Legal Aid Together?

Yes. The voucher scheme and legal aid are compatible:

• If you qualify for legal aid, it will cover the cost of your MIAM and all mediation sessions in full. The voucher is not needed in this case.
• If one party qualifies for legal aid and the other does not, the non-eligible party can still claim a voucher. In this situation, the non-eligible party also receives legal aid funding for their MIAM and first mediation session.

How to Get Started

The first step is to book a MIAM. During your MIAM, your mediator will explain the voucher scheme, check whether your case is eligible, and handle the application if it is.

You do not need to do anything in advance. Just book your MIAM and your mediator will take care of the rest.

Book Your MIAM

Official Information

For the full details of the scheme, including the latest updates on availability, see the official guidance on GOV.UK:

GOV.UK: Family Mediation Voucher Scheme

Related Guides

• What Is a MIAM? – Your first step to accessing the voucher
• Child Arrangements – The most common type of case eligible for the voucher
• Financial Mediation – Eligible when combined with a child dispute
• How Mediation Works – What happens after your MIAM
• Pricing – Full fee breakdown