Mediation costs

Mediation – Quicker and cheaper than court

Mediation is encouraged before resorting to solicitors and courts because it is much cheaper and faster and normally results in a way forward that is fair and practical for you. It also keeps discussions private avoiding the damaging publicity of a legal battle.

How much does mediation cost?

  • Our mediation rates are clear, fair, simple and good value.
  • All our cost are detailed below – there are no hidden extras.
  • Access our services from anywhere in the UK or abroad.

Are you on
a low income?

Are you on a low income and would struggle to afford our usual rates?

Don’t worry we are still able to help! Find out about Legal Aid and the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme

Our Services

MIAM and other individual assessment meetings.  

£120 (reduced rate if eligible on the Oasis scheme)

What you get:-
  • A chance to talk through your situation with an experienced, impartial mediator.
  • Find out about mediation and whether mediation is likely to be of help to you.
  • Get information of other sources of help and advice.
  • Meet the requirements for your court application if you are making one within 4 months.
  • Choose daytime, evening or weekend appointments to suit you.
  • In person or online appointments available

Mediation sessions

£135 per person per hour

What you get:-
  • An experienced mediator to manage your discussions to make sure they are focused, helpful and productive.
  • A written, confidential and without prejudice summary of the decisions you make.
  • Your court application signed (where required) free of charge if you have tried mediation but still need to go to court.

Child Consultation meeting

£180 per child (cost shared between the parents)

What you get:-
  • A meeting for your child with an experienced Child Inclusive mediator, especially trained to talk with children and young people.
  • A verbal report from your Child inclusive mediator on any needs or information your child has asked us to share with you.

Mediation commissioned by a separate body to those in dispute.

This includes mediation paid for by an Employer, local authority or landlord

  • 3-Hour Mediation Session – £684
  • Whole Day Mediation – £1,180

Negotiation support

£135 per hour

Individual support to those involved in negotiations or disputes from a professionally qualified mediator. Designed to help you clarify what you are aiming to achieve and develop strategies for reaching a satisfactory agreement where mediation is not possible.

Help with your Mediation Costs

Mediation is already a quicker, cheaper and far more satisfactory option than going to court and the good news is that there is additional help available to make it even more accessible to everyone. Below are the ways that both the government and we can help.

Free Mediation for matters involving Children.

If mediation includes children’s arrangements, you can have your first mediation session for free. Once you have attended your MIAMs and mediation is assessed as suitable, we can apply for a government mediation voucher to cover the costs of your first joint mediation session. Often matters can be resolved in just one session. Should you need a follow up session within 3 months, you are on a low income and eligible for our Oasis Scheme, we can offer you a follow up session for just £48

Legal Aid

If you are on a low income or benefits you may be entitled to legal aid. You can check if this might apply to you online at https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid.

We do not currently offer legally aided mediation. If you think you might be entitled to legal aid let us know and we can give you contact details of Legal Aid mediation providers who can help you.

The Oasis Scheme

‘What if I can’t find a legal aid service who can help me quickly or I am not entitled to legal aid?’

If you aren’t entitled to legal aid but would struggle to pay standard mediation fees, we may be able to help you. Our Oasis scheme offering special reduced rates was set up during the pandemic, but we know things are still difficult for many people.

If you would like to apply for our reduced rates, we ask you to complete a short financial eligibility questionnaire. Those who would be eligible for legally aided mediation would be automatically eligible for the Oasis scheme if you would prefer to use us.

Our Special reduced rates for child arrangement mediation if you are on a low income
(in-person appointments at our Swindon Offices or online nationally only):

MIAM – £48

 Mediation Sessions:
             First joint mediation meeting –free with the government mediation voucher
             Follow up mediation meeting (within 3 months) – £48

Why trying mediation makes good financial sense

Each mediation is unique and how long it takes to resolve will be affected by a number of factors. However, below are some typical mediation costs for different situations to give you an idea of overall costs and timescales (all names have been changed of course!).

Mediation is encouraged before resorting to solicitors and courts because it is much cheaper and faster and normally results in a way forward that is fair and practical for you. It also keeps discussions private avoiding the damaging publicity of a legal battle.

In most cases mediation costs will come in under £1000 per person. Compare this with the potential cost of litigation and court which can easily run to tens of thousands per person.

Sorting out child arrangements

Laura and Chris split up two years ago.  They could not agree on how their two children would spend time with each parent.  Contact, holidays, special events and decisions about parenting, education and medical matters were difficult to deal with and a source of conflict. However, they both wanted to find a better way to communicate and reduce the stress for themselves and the children. They came to us and, in just one two hour mediation, managed to find a way forward.  They also chose to come back for a follow up meeting to review how the new arrangements were working. They took advantage of the government mediation voucher scheme to further reduce the costs of mediation.

Cost per person:-

MIAMs / individual pre meeting

 £120

2 hour mediation meeting (free with the Government voucher)

Free

2 hour follow up meeting to review arrangements (not always needed)

£270

Outcome statement recording your decisions and plans

Free

Total (Timescale 1 – 2 months)

£390

Resolving a commercial dispute or a single issue family matter

Margaret, Alan, Carol and Paul, the 4 brothers and sisters in the Wood family argued over the terms of their mother’s will after her death.  The oldest sister, Margaret had sold her own house and moved in with her mother to look after her nearly 20 years ago.  Alan and Carol wanted to sell the house as soon as possible and take the equal shares (as described in the will).  Paul felt very strongly that Margaret should be allowed to continue to live in the house as Margaret would not have enough money to buy somewhere to live.  Margaret was upset at the prospect of being homeless. During the mediation the brothers and sisters had a chance to discuss how they felt about the situation. By the end of the meeting they had worked out a number of options and decided a fair way forward together.

Cost per person:-
MIAMs / individual pre meeting

 £120

4 hour mediation meeting

£540

Outcome statement recording your decisions and plans

Free

Total– Timescale 2 – 4 weeks

£660

Agreeing a financial settlement when couples are separating

Adeel and Jawaria had decided to separate after 8 years of marriage. Whilst they were parting on good terms, they wanted to make sure that their finances were properly agreed and that this would stand the test of time.  They each looked into the best way of reaching a settlement and decided to come to mediation so that they did not spend time and money with solicitors and at court.

After they had jointly identified their options they each sought specialist advice before coming together to make decisions.

Cost per person:-

MIAMs / individual pre meeting

 £120

1 hour mediation meeting clarifying priorities and identifying
financial information required.
£135

2 hour mediation meeting to share and discuss financial disclosure and consider options for settlement

£270

Each person then seeks advice on options from their legal/financial advisor
.
2 hour meeting to discuss advice given on options considered
and reaching a financial settlement
£270
Issuing of a draft Memorandum of Understanding and Open
Financial statement reflecting their plans
£270
Final meeting (if required) to discuss and modify draft
Memorandum of Understanding before issuing final documents
£270
Total (Timescale 2 – 4 months)£1,335

Resolving a dispute between two work colleagues

Colin and Gary both work in a customer care team in a household products company.  They used to have a very good relationship but this had gradually deteriorated over a period of time. In the past year however, Colin had been promoted and was now Gary’s supervisor.  Almost immediately they had started  making formal complaints about each other, which had resulted in a disciplinary and a grievance procedure.  Their manager was concerned that the situation would eventually result in both being dismissed (which would be unpleasant for everyone and potentially expensive for the company) and had asked the HR department to intervene.  They asked LBA to run a mediation process to try to resolve Colin and Gary’s dispute.

After meeting with each party, the mediator ran a session to identify why they were finding it difficult to work together and to look at and agree a way forward.

Cost to the commissioning agency (their employer)
MIAMs / individual pre meeting (£120 x2)£240
3-Hour Mediation Session£600
Outcome statement for the parties recording decisions and plansFree
Final meeting (if required) to discuss and modify draft Memorandum of Understanding before issuing final documents£270
Total (Timescale 2 – 4 weeks)£910