The Government has pledged to continue its support for Family Mediation by providing legal aid for clients who are eligible and it is at your free initial appointment that you will be assessed to see if you are eligible for free mediation.

Free Assessment Meeting

The purpose of this meeting is to see each party on a one to one basis, to decide as to the suitability of your case for mediation and to assess whether you may be eligible to receive free mediation. You will need to allow 30 to 45 minutes for this meeting as we will also explain the process and principles of mediation which will, hopefully, allow you to make an informed decision about whether you wish to enter into the mediation process.

To establish if clients are eligible for public funding (legal aid)

In order for us to undertake this assessment you must bring to the meeting with the following:-

• Your National Insurance number
• Evidence of the income you received or became entitled to during the four weeks before your appointment. This must include income from all sources/benefits and capital (savings etc.)
• If you are self employed then it is the level of drawings taken from the business for personal use which will count as income. If no drawings have been taken then proof of how your day to day living costs have been met, i.e. if you have had any income or assistance from other sources (e.g. assistance from friends or relatives with bills).
• Where income is erratic (because of bonuses, commission, nature of employment or payment etc) it is the income you would expect to receive in respect of the calendar month prior to the assessment that is taken into account, e.g, for the self employed it is the hours worked during such period @ the hourly rate that are to be charged for.
• Copies of all your bank/building society statements covering the four week period prior to your appointment
• Please note that if you are now living with a new partner evidence of your new partner’s income/receipt of benefits and capital will also be required.

More guidance regarding eligibility can be found on the calculator here

If insufficient evidence is not provided unfortunately we will not be able to grant you legal aid and private client rates will apply, and you may be charged for this assessment meeting.

Clients eligible for legal aid/public funding

If it is established that you are eligible for public funding by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) then this meeting will be free as will any other meetings as mediation proceeds.

Private Clients

Your initial one to one appointment will be free of charge. If mediation does not proceed because your ex partner is unwilling to consider mediation we will produce and endorse the Form (FM1) for your solicitors to submit under the Pre Action Protocol if necessary. The charge for this administration will be £100.00 plus vat.

Mediation Meetings

If you have been assessed as eligible for Legal Aid then the mediation meetings will be free to you. If you are a ’Private Client’ the fee for each meeting will be payable at the end of each session. We accept payment by cheque, debit card and credit card (charge applicable). Each mediating party will be responsible for their own mediation fee. In addition our charges for preparing the following documentation are as follows:

Mediation Meeting – Hourly Rate …………………………………………………………………………………£100.00 (+ VAT)

Memorandum of Understanding and Open Financial Statement of Information …………………………..£180.00 (+ VAT)

Child Summary Letter ………………………………………………………………………………………………£ 80.00 (+ VAT)

All Issues Summary Letter ………………………………………………………………………………………..£120.00 (+ VAT)

Endorsement of the Form “FM1″ if mediation breaks down …………………………………………………..£ 25.00 (+ VAT)

Cancellation Policy

Sometimes problems are caused by clients not turning up for appointments or cancelling on the same day, or with very little notice and this means those appointments cannot then be offered to other clients. Additionally, in the case of outreach offices, rooms have been booked and rent will be payable whether or not you turn up. In view of the foregoing we reserve the right to make a charge for any mediation appointments that are cancelled.