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Do I need a MIAM?
Use our free short questionnaire to help you quickly understand whether Mediation is the right next step. Whether your dispute relates to child arrangements or financial settlements, the MIAM is a first step in understanding what the mediation journey involves and how it compares to a court process.
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Key Points
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A MIAM stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.
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It is usually required before making a family court application in England and Wales.
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You attend on your own — it is not a joint meeting with the other person.
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The appointment typically lasts between 45 minutes and one hour.
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The mediator is not a judge — they do not make decisions about your case.
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After the MIAM, the mediator issues a certificate (the FM1 form) that the court requires.
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In some situations a MIAM is not required — for example, if domestic abuse is involved.
Why is a MIAM Required?
Since April 2014, the family courts in England and Wales have required most applicants to attend a MIAM before making a court application. This is set out in the Family Procedure Rules.
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The requirement exists because mediation can often resolve family disputes more quickly, at lower cost, and with less stress than going to court. The MIAM ensures that applicants have at least considered mediation before resorting to litigation.
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In practice, this means that if you want to apply to a family court — for example, for a child arrangements order, a financial remedy order, or certain other applications — you will usually need a MIAM certificate before the court will accept your application.
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Key point: The MIAM does not prevent you from going to court. It simply means you have considered mediation first. If mediation is not suitable or the other person refuses to attend, the mediator can still issue your certificate.
Use our 1-minute 'Do I Need A MIAM?' questionnaire to find out if you need an initial mediation meeting
MIAM SURVEY FAQs
Is my information kept confidential? Yes. Information you share with us and any personal data is kept in secure storage. We delete questionnaire submissions after 30 days
What happens after I complete the form? One of our business team will receive your questionnaire results and we will assess if mediation is suitable for you. If this is the case, we will contact you for a free consultation