What child arrangements mediation can help you agree
- Where the children will live, and when they spend time with each parent
- Weekday routines, weekends, school holidays, birthdays and religious festivals
- Handovers, travel and how you will communicate between homes
- Schooling, health, activities and other big decisions
- Introducing new partners, and how you'll review the plan as children grow
Arrangements made together tend to last. Children cope better when their parents are working from the same plan, and you avoid a judge deciding what happens at the end of a long and stressful court process.
How it works
- Your MIAM. Each of you meets the mediator separately, in confidence. We check that mediation is safe and suitable.
- Joint sessions. Usually two 90-minute sessions, by video. If being together is too hard, we use shuttle mediation instead.
- Your parenting plan. We write up what you have agreed in plain English, for both of you to keep.
- Six-month check-in. A free follow-up to see how the plan is working and make changes if needed.
What it costs
A typical child arrangements mediation comes to about £630 per person: a MIAM (£130), two joint sessions (£195 each) and a parenting plan (£110). With the government voucher, it is typically about £435 per person. No VAT is charged. See all fees.
If there are safety concerns, such as domestic abuse or a risk to the children, mediation may not be suitable. We assess every case privately at the MIAM. Read about safeguarding.
Fathers, mothers and wider family
We work with both parents equally. If you are a parent worried about losing contact, or have been denied time with your children, mediation is often the quickest way to re-establish a routine. Grandparents and other relatives can sometimes be included where it helps the children. Read our guides on child access for fathers and being denied access.