When your family is changing, we help you find a calmer way forward.
Certified family mediators helping separating parents agree arrangements for their children, money and home, without going to court. By video from home, across England and Wales.
- MIAMs from £130
- Urgent appointments within 24 hours
- Up to £500 government voucher for children cases
Our mediators are registered, accredited and trained with
How can we help you today?
Choose what's closest to your situation. If you're not sure, a free call is the best place to start.
I've been told I need a MIAM
Check in a minute, then book. We confirm it for the court afterwards.
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I have a court deadline
Urgent MIAMs by video within 24 hours of payment, £160.
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We need to agree arrangements for the children
Where they live, time with each parent, holidays and parenting plans.
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We need to sort out money or the house
Property, pensions, savings and maintenance, through to a consent order.
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You don't have to work this out alone
Separation is one of the hardest things a family goes through. Our mediators are calm, impartial and experienced. They help you both talk about what matters and turn it into a plan you can live with.
- You'll be heard. Every conversation starts with your concerns, at your pace.
- Safety comes first. We assess every case privately, and tell you honestly if mediation isn't right.
- You'll leave with something practical. A written proposal that can be shared with solicitors or made legally binding.
“Romina is a skilled and highly competent mediator who was able to diffuse conflict and navigate tense conversations to find practical solutions and ways of moving forwards. I would definitely recommend her.”
How mediation works
Every journey starts the same way. After the MIAMs there are two paths, and your mediator helps you understand which one is right for your family.
- 1
A free 10-minute call
Tell us what's happening. We'll explain your options and answer your questions.
- 2
Your MIAM
A private one-to-one meeting with your mediator, by video, to understand your situation and check mediation is safe and suitable.
- 3
Your ex-partner is invited
With your agreement, we contact the other person and invite them to their own separate MIAM.
Path A: you both agree to mediate
Mediation sessions
Usually two to four sessions, together or shuttle, working through children, money and property at your pace.
Your written agreement
We write up what you've agreed: a parenting plan, a Memorandum of Understanding, or both.
Make it legally binding (optional)
A solicitor can turn a financial agreement into a consent order. We can recommend one from our network of vetted family solicitors.
Path B: mediation isn't suitable or possible
Your mediator confirms it
For example, if your ex-partner declines or doesn't reply, or there are safety concerns such as domestic abuse.
Your court form is signed
Your mediator signs the MIAM section of your court form (C100 for children, Form A for finances). It's valid for four months.
You can apply to court
A judge then decides. You can still choose to mediate at any point, even after proceedings have started.
Mediation or court?
Most families who mediate never need a court hearing. Here's how the two compare.
| Topic | Mediation with Ark | Going to court |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | You and your ex-partner | A judge |
| How long it takes | Usually two to four sessions, over a few weeks to a few months | Around 10 months for a children order (GOV.UK) |
| Cost to start | MIAM from £130 per person | £270 court fee to apply about children |
| Typical overall cost | Often a few hundred pounds each. Estimate yours | Legal fees for a contested case can reach many thousands of pounds |
| Conflict | Lowers conflict by focusing on solutions you can both live with | Adversarial, with each side putting its case against the other |
| Co-parenting afterwards | Builds communication you'll keep using as parents | Can make it harder to work together in future |
| Children's voice | Child-inclusive mediation lets children be heard, away from conflict | Usually through a Cafcass report |
| Flexibility | Agreements tailored to your family, and easy to revisit as children grow | Orders are fixed; changing them usually means going back to court |
| Privacy | Confidential sessions | Formal hearings and court records |
| Where | From home, by video | At a family court |
Mediation isn't suitable for every situation, for example where there is domestic abuse. We'll always tell you honestly. Safeguarding and safety
Mediation that fits your family
Family mediation is one process with the same goal: helping you both reach decisions you can live with. But no two families are alike. Some need the mediator to keep them apart, some want their children heard, and some need legal advice or extra structure along the way. These approaches change how sessions are set up, so mediation still works when circumstances make agreement harder. Your mediator will suggest what suits you at your MIAM.
When you want your children to have a voiceChild-inclusive mediation
Children aged around 10 and over can share their views privately with a specially trained mediator.
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When being together feels too difficultShuttle mediation
You stay in separate rooms or video calls while the mediator moves between you.
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When you want legal support in the roomHybrid mediation
Your solicitors can join sessions, so legal advice is there as decisions are made.
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When autism, ADHD or similar needs are part of family lifeNeurodiverse families
Sessions adapted to how a parent or child processes information, with breaks and clear structure.
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When culture or faith shapes what feels fairCulturally aware mediation
Faith, heritage, language and wider family expectations are respected and understood.
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When the finances are complicatedComplex assets
Businesses, multiple properties, pensions and trusts, worked through with experts where needed.
Find out more
Clear, simple prices
Each of you pays for your own MIAM. Mediation is charged per person, per hour.
MIAM by video
One-to-one, MIAM certificate included
£130per personUrgent MIAM
Within 24 hours of payment
£160per personJoint mediation
Together, by video
£130per hour, per personShuttle mediation
Separately, by video
£145per hour, per personHelp with your costs
Family Mediation Voucher
Where your mediation involves arrangements for children, the government may contribute towards your mediation fees. It is not a cost to you and it is not means tested.
No VAT is charged on any of our fees. Joint sessions last 90 minutes and shuttle sessions two hours.
The people you'll speak to
Experienced, FMC-registered mediators with backgrounds in family law, child contact and family support.
Meet our founder
Romina Kamran
Founder & Lead Mediator · FMC Accredited (1399A) · Family Mediation Standards Board · NFM Board
Romina has led Ark since it began trading in 2019, helping over 1,000 clients, and she helps set the standards family mediators work to across England and Wales. As heard on The Conversation (BBC Sounds). On Instagram, as Mediation with Romina, she shares honest, practical support for separating parents, and she co-created The Family Mediation Project, a free guide to family mediation.
Wherever you are in England or Wales
Most mediation happens by secure video, so you can work with us from London, Birmingham or Manchester to Cardiff, or from overseas. If you'd rather meet in person, we have hubs across Buckinghamshire and the South East.
Mediation for families living overseas
If one or both of you live abroad but your children, home or finances are connected to England and Wales, you can mediate with us by video from anywhere. We offer early-morning and evening sessions to work across time zones, and can recommend solicitors with cross-border experience.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UAE
Since 2023, non-Muslim expats can use the UAE's civil family law. The UAE is not part of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, so agreeing travel and relocation plans in advance matters. The UAE is 3 to 4 hours ahead of the UK.
Mediation for UAE families
France, Spain, Germany and across the EU
Since Brexit, cross-border family cases between the UK and EU countries mostly rely on the Hague Conventions. A mediated agreement can make holidays, school and moves simpler to arrange. Most of Europe is just 1 to 2 hours ahead.
International families
The United States
The US and UK are both part of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, but rules differ from state to state. We plan sessions around a 5 to 8 hour time difference, often in your morning and our evening.
International familiesGuides for separating families
Plain-English answers, written by our founder and lead mediator, Romina Kamran.
Co-parenting over Christmas: agreeing arrangements
Mediating with a narcissistic partner
Child maintenance: what it covers and when it ends
New to mediation? Read The Family Mediation Project, our free, plain-English guide to how family mediation works in England and Wales.
Frequently asked questions
What is a MIAM?
A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is a private one-to-one meeting with an accredited mediator. You learn how mediation works and whether it suits your situation. You usually need one before applying to court about children or finances. Ours cost £130 by video.
Do we have to be in the same room?
No. Most sessions are by secure video. If being together feels too difficult, shuttle mediation lets the mediator move between you, so you never have to see or speak to each other directly.
How much does family mediation cost?
A MIAM costs £130 per person, or £160 within 24 hours. Joint mediation by video costs £130 per hour per person, in 90-minute sessions. There is no VAT, and families with children may get £500 towards costs. See our fees.
Can I get help with the cost?
Yes. The government's Family Mediation Voucher Scheme contributes up to £500 per case towards mediation about children. It is not means tested and is paid directly to your mediator, reducing your fees. Check if you qualify.
What if my ex will not take part?
You can still attend your own MIAM. If the other person declines or does not reply, your mediator confirms this so you can apply to court if you need to.
Is what I say confidential?
Yes. Mediation is confidential and what is said cannot normally be used in court. The only exception is information suggesting a risk of serious harm, which the mediator must act on.
Book your free 10-minute call
Tell us a little about your situation and a mediator will call you back, usually the same working day.
- Send us a few details
- A mediator calls you back at a time that suits you
- No obligation, and nothing is shared with your ex-partner
Prefer to talk now? 0330 043 6360