Divorce mediation

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where a trained, neutral mediator helps both parties communicate and negotiate to find a solution that meets everyone’s needs. While court proceedings are formal, expensive, and often adversarial – with decisions made by a judge rather than you – mediation gives you more control.

Mediation can help you reach agreement on finances, property, pensions, child arrangements, housing, and more. Agreements can be formalised into a legally binding consent order. And because you’ve both shaped the final agreement together, you’re more likely to feel it’s fair, stick to it, and preserve relationships in the process.

Mediation works well for most divorcing couples, including those who are struggling to communicate or where there are significant agreements to work through.

A common misconception is that mediation isn’t an option in cases where there has been domestic violence. In fact, shuttle mediation makes it possible for both parties to participate without ever having direct contact. Your mediatior moves between you, relaying information and helping you reach an agreement.

However, it’s not suitable in all cases, for example when one party is unwilling to engage at all; in those circumstances we can talk you through your options, including the direct-to-court route. If you’re unsure, our free 15-minute consultation is a good place to start.

1. Get in touch. Call, email, or WhatsApp us and we’ll get you booked in. We can usually arrange your MIAM within 24 hours, at a time that suits you.
2. Your MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment meeting). This is short, confidential meeting with a family mediator – this is always individual. You’ll go over your issue in detail, evaluate your situation, and go over the law, your rights and options, and explore whether mediation is the right route for you. If it isn’t, they’ll sign your court form so you can proceed without delay.
3. We contact the other party. If mediation is suitable, we’ll reach out to your ex-partner to invite them to take part. They’ll have their own individual MIAM before any joint sessions begin.
4. Joint mediation sessions. You meet with your mediator to work through what needs to be agreed. Sessions are structured and focused, and can be worked through together with your ex-partner, or shuttled (where your mediator moves between both parties).
5. Document your agreement. Once you’ve reached agreement, your mediator captures everything in a Memorandum of Understanding and Open Financial Statement – a clear, written record of what you’ve both agreed and how you have come to that agreement.
6. Make it legally binding. Your Memorandum of Understanding can be formalised into a consent order, giving your agreement full legal weight. UKMS handles this as part of our Agreed service – no separate solicitor needed.
7. Move forward. With a legal agreement in place, you can both move forward with clarity and confidence.

Mediation typically costs a fraction of going to court for a divorce. While contested court-based divorce can cost between £10,000-£30,000 in legal fees (and can take months, or even years), mediated divorce often costs around £XXXX.

At UKMS, mediation sessions cost £135 per person, with no hidden extras. Court forms and Child Arrangements documents are included at no additional charge. Visit our pricing page and get in touch with the team.

The government’s Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides up to £500 towards the cost of mediation for eligible cases. If you have children and any agreement needs to be made about them, you’ll automatically qualify.

The voucher is not means tested, which means it’s available regardless of your income or financial circumstances. We’ll help you understand whether the voucher applies to your situation and help you access it.

Most cases require between two and five mediation sessions, each lasting around 90 minutes. A straightforward case can reach agreement within three to four weeks; more complex situations may take a little longer.

The legal divorce process in England and Wales has a mandatory 26-week minimum timeframe, regardless of whether you use mediation. However, mediation allows you to resolve financial and child arrangements during that period – helping you avoid further delays once the divorce itself is finalised. Mediation is significantly faster than court proceedings, which can take months or even years.

You don’t have to be in the same meeting room. Our sessions take place online via video call, which makes the process easier if you’re in different locations or if online mediation is more convenient. We offer shuttled mediation (where you and the other party are in separate meeting rooms and the mediator moves between you). We’ll discuss what works best for your situation before you start.

Yes, the Memorandum of Understanding and Open Financial Statement produced at the end of mediation sets out what you’ve agreed, but is not itself legally binding. To make a financial agreement or child arrangement legally binding, it needs to be drawn up as a consent order and approved by a court – a process UKMS can guide you through. Without a consent order, either party could potentially make future financial claims, so it’s an important step for most couples.

For mediation to work, both parties need to be willing to take part, so it can’t proceed if the other person refuses entirely. However, you’ll still need to attend a MIAM yourself before making a court application – this is a legal requirement in most cases. If the other party won’t engage, the mediator can sign the paperwork confirming that mediation wasn’t possible which allows you to proceed to court. Our Direct to Court package is designed to support you through that process if needed.