Child mediation

Child mediation that helps you to resolve your situation –
without the cost or complexity of court

How we can help

When it comes to child arrangements, what matters most is what works best for your children. Mediation gives you a structured, neutral space to work through child arrangements together, with your children’s needs at the centre of every decision.

A mediator doesn’t take sides or make any decisions for you. They create the conditions for both parties to be heard – and to reach an agreement that puts your children’s wellbeing first.

Child inclusive mediation

UKMS mediators are trained to speak with children directly as part of the process. Where appropriate, the mediator meets with your children separately, and feeds their thoughts and wishes back into the process – helping both parents make decisions with a fuller picture of how their children feel.

Moving the conversation forward

When communication between parents is difficult, a mediator provides a calm, structured environment that keeps the focus on the children. If needed, shuttle mediation means you and the other party can be in separate spaces with your mediator moving between you.

Arrangements built to last

Unlike court-imposed orders, mediated agreements are shaped by you both. That means they’re more likely to reflect your children’s real day-to-day lives, and are more likely to work long-term.

Formal agreements

A child arrangements agreement reached in mediation can be formalised into a legally binding consent order, giving both parents – and most importantly your children – lasting certainty and a clear framework to rely on.

Avoid the stress and cost of court

Child arrangements disputes that go to court can take months, cost thousands in legal fees, and the outcome is decided by a judge rather than you. Mediation is faster, a fraction of the cost, and you can also make use of the Government’s £500 Family Mediation Voucher.

What’s the process?

Every family’s situation is different. Here are three of the most common situations we help with:

“Things are difficult between us, but I want us to find a way to make this work for the children.”

Mediation is built for exactly this. A mediator takes you through a structured process where you work through arrangements, with your children’s wellbeing as the shared focus. The first step is a MIAM (Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting) where you meet with a mediator individually.

Get in touch

“We have an informal agreement, but I’m worried it won’t hold.”

Informal arrangements can work well – but when circumstances change, putting something formal in place can give everyone greater security. Mediation gives you the opportunity to formalise what you’ve agreed, make sure it reflects your children’s needs properly, and turn it into something that carries legal weight.

Find out more

“We can’t agree, and I’m not sure what to do next.”

If communication feels difficult right now, a mediator can help both parties reach a place where agreement is possible – without the cost and conflict of going to court. Since 2014, attending a MIAM has been a legal requirement before making an application to family court. If mediation isn’t suitable, your mediator will sign the required court form so you can proceed.

Find out more about our Direct to Court package.

Direct to Court package

What makes UKMS different

Choosing the right mediator matters. Here’s what sets UKMS apart:

  • Fastest access to mediation in the UK

    We can often get you in for a MIAM within 24 hours, with no extra charge for same-day or shuttle appointments.

  • Genuinely transparent pricing

    Our rates are fixed and clearly stated – no hidden fees, and no extra charge for court forms or Child Arrangements documents. We’ll also help you access the government’s £500 Family Mediation Voucher.

  • Support throughout the process

    Whether you need support with one part of the process or the whole journey via our Agreed service, we’ll help you navigate the next steps – no referrals, no handoffs.

  • Fully qualified and accredited

    All UKMS mediators are accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), the professional body that sets and monitors standards for family mediation across the UK.

  • Nationwide reach, personal service

    UKMS covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. You’re not dealing with a call centre; you’re working with a dedicated team who knows your situation.

Our clients say

I highly recommend Derek and his team. They were all extremely helpful and talked me through everything step by step so I felt comfortable. Derek got back to me quickly and made the whole process a lot easier than expected. Thank you!

H. Plummer

Very honest, caring and experience mediation service always ready to listen to your needs and help by counselling and leading you to best choice of decision after mediation. Thank you Mr Derek and team.

K. Asare

I highly recommend The UK Mediation Service, Derek was very understanding throughout the entire process and was always there to help answer any queries. He made the entire process very seamless and stress-free.

P. Gajanan

Derek handled my case, and I cannot speak more highly of him. Was able to diffuse extremely frustrating situations during the mediation session and was a true professional throughout.

T. Adesanya

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, where appropriate, UKMS mediators are trained to meet with children as part of the mediation process – this is child inclusive mediation. The mediator meets with your child or children separately, in a safe and age-appropriate way, and feeds their thoughts, wishes, and feelings back to both parents. This is to make sure their voices are heard, without placing any responsibility on them. Ultimately it helps parents to reach an arrangement that reflects how your children feel.

A child arrangement agreement sets out how your children’s time will be divided between both parents – where they’ll live, when they’ll spend time with each parent, and how key decisions about their lives will be made. Reached through mediation, it’s an agreement that both parents have shaped together, based on what works best for your children and your family’s real circumstances. It can cover day-to-day routines, holidays, schooling, and more. It can be revisited as your children grow and their needs change.

It depends on the complexity of your situation and how many sessions are needed to work through everything. Many families reach an agreement within two or four mediation sessions, but it can sometimes take longer. Your mediator will give you a clearer sense of timescales in your MIAM.

Mediation is significantly less expensive than going to court. Family court proceedings for child arrangements can cost thousands of pounds in legal fees and take many months.

At UKMS, mediation sessions are £145 per person/per session – with no hidden extras. Session summaries and Child Arrangement documents are included. For couples who want to resolve their situation entirely through mediation, our Agreed service costs £XXXX, and includes a legally binding consent order to formalise arrangements.

Regardless of income, anyone with children automatically qualifies for the government’s £500 Family Mediation Voucher; we can help you access this.

A mediated child agreement is not automatically legally binding. But once you’ve reached agreement, it can be formalised into a consent order and approved by the court, giving it full legal weight. Your mediator can advise you on the process and the right step for your situation.

If a consent order is in place and one party doesn’t comply with it, the other party can apply to the court to have it enforced. If the arrangement is informal and not court-approved, your options are more limited, so many families choose to formalise their agreement. If circumstances change significantly for either parent or the children, mediation can also help you revisit and update arrangements without returning to court.

Ready to talk?

If you'd like to understand how mediation could help you reach an agreement that works for your children, or you're ready to take the next step, our team is here to help.

We offer a free 15-minute consultation to help you get started.

Talk to us now

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