What Is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?
The family mediation voucher scheme is a government initiative run by the Ministry of Justice. It contributes up to £500 towards the cost of family mediation for eligible cases.
The scheme launched in March 2021 to help ease a backlog of family court cases. Since then, it has helped tens of thousands of families resolve disputes without going to court.
A few things to know from the start:
- The £500 goes directly to your mediator. You do not receive money into your account.
- There is no means test. Your income does not affect whether you qualify.
- You can only claim once per case. If you have already used a voucher for the same dispute, you cannot claim again.
The scheme runs through the Family Mediation Council (FMC), and only FMC-authorised mediators can take part. New Horizon Family Mediation is an authorised provider, so if you come to us, you are in the right place.
Do You Qualify?
Eligibility is assessed at your first meeting with a mediator. Here are the main criteria.
Your case must involve a child. The voucher scheme covers:
- Disputes about child arrangements, such as where children will live and contact arrangements.
- Financial disputes where you are also dealing with a child arrangements issue at the same time.
If your dispute is purely financial with no child arrangements element, the voucher does not apply. You may still be eligible for legal aid, which is worth asking about.
Both parties must attend a MIAM. Your ex-partner also needs to attend their own Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting before joint mediation can begin.
Both parties must agree to mediate. Mediation is voluntary. Neither person can be forced to take part.
You must not have already claimed a voucher for this case. One voucher per family, per dispute. If you return to mediation after a gap, you cannot claim a second voucher for the same case.
What Is a MIAM and Why Does It Come First?
A MIAM is a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. It is a short, individual meeting with a qualified mediator before any joint sessions begin.
At your MIAM, the mediator will:
- Explain how the mediation process works.
- Check whether your situation is suitable for mediation.
- Confirm whether you meet the eligibility requirements for the voucher scheme.
- Tell you whether vouchers are currently available.
Since 2024, attending a MIAM is a legal requirement before making most types of family court application, unless you have a valid exemption. So even if mediation is not right for your situation, you are likely to need this meeting at some point.
The MIAM fee is not covered by the voucher. It is a separate cost, paid privately or through legal aid if you qualify. Once the MIAM is done and you move to joint mediation sessions, that is where the £500 comes in.
If you want to understand more about what to expect from the process before you book, our guide to considering family mediation is a useful place to start.
How to Claim the Voucher, Step by Step
Step 1: Contact a mediator
Get in touch with an FMC-authorised mediator such as New Horizon Family Mediation. You can call us, fill in the self-referral form on our website, or ask your solicitor to refer you. We will talk you through what to expect before anything is formally booked.
Step 2: Attend your MIAM
You and your ex-partner each attend a MIAM separately. These can be done in person or by video call. At your MIAM, the mediator will confirm whether you are eligible for the voucher scheme.
Step 3: Your mediator applies for the voucher
This is the part most people do not realise: you do not apply for the voucher yourself. If you are eligible, your mediator handles the application. You will be asked to sign a short consent form confirming that:
- You have asked the mediator to apply on your behalf.
- You have not already claimed a voucher for this case.
- You agree to basic case information being shared with the FMC for monitoring purposes.
That is all the paperwork on your end.
Step 4: Joint mediation sessions begin
Once both MIAMs are complete and the voucher is confirmed, joint sessions can start. The £500 is applied to the cost of those sessions. Your mediator will tell you upfront how far the voucher is likely to stretch.
Step 5: Voucher is paid to the mediator after sessions finish
The funds go to the mediator once mediation is complete, not at the start. The voucher offsets the final bill rather than being paid in advance.
To find out more about what our sessions involve, visit our family mediation service page.
How Far Does £500 Actually Go?
It depends on how many sessions you need and your mediator’s rate.
Most couples need between two and four joint sessions to reach agreement on the main issues. Some straightforward cases resolve in fewer. More complex disputes about finances and children may take longer.
As a rough guide: if joint sessions cost around £130 per person per hour and you each attend three two-hour sessions, the total before the voucher would be around £780 per person. The £500 brings a significant part of that down.
Compare that to court. Legal costs for a family court application can run from £8,000 to £25,000 per person, before a contested final hearing. Many families spend far more.
And it works. Roughly 70% of families who use mediation reach a full or partial agreement.
What If the Voucher Runs Out or You Do Not Qualify?
The voucher covers up to £500. If your costs go beyond that, you pay the rest directly to your mediator at the agreed rate.
If your case does not qualify, there are still options worth asking about.
Legal aid. If you or your ex-partner receive certain benefits or have a low household income, you may qualify for legal aid. This can cover MIAM costs and, in some cases, mediation sessions. If one party qualifies for legal aid, the other may still be eligible for a voucher.
Self-funded mediation. Even without the voucher, mediation costs far less than going to court. Many families who pay privately still save thousands compared to legal proceedings.
Ask us. When you contact New Horizon, we will talk through your situation and help you understand what funding options are open to you before you commit to anything.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are going through a separation and children are involved, the family mediation voucher scheme is worth looking into. You may be entitled to £500 towards your costs with no means test and no paperwork to handle yourself.
The first step is a conversation. Call New Horizon Family Mediation on 07775 038 482 or contact us here to arrange your MIAM.
