If you are eligible for legal aid, the whole mediation process will be free of charge, and your solicitor’s charges (if they have a Contract with the legal aid agency), up to a limited amount, for advising you alongside the mediation process, will be covered by the Legal Aid Agency thus resulting in substantial savings.
See the weblink to the online legal aid checker in the resources section to this chapter.
If your former partner is eligible for legal aid for mediation but you are not, the MIAMs and first mediation session will still be free of charge for you, saving you hundreds of pounds.
If matters proceed through the courts, the cost of a child dispute can be typically between £3,000 to £6,000+ per person.
Cases involving the resolution of financial matters can typically cost £5,000 to £10,000+ per person and often rise to £20-25,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case and where you are in the country. For example, London solicitors often estimate £50-100,000+ for court proceedings.
In stark contrast, the cost of a mediation ranges from an average £500 to £1,500 plus vat per person, depending on the number of sessions required, which is fully paid by the Legal Aid Agency for any person who is eligible to free Mediation.
Normally, if a successful outcome is reached during mediation there will be additional legal costs to pay to your solicitor of between £500 and £1,000 per person, to formalise any agreement and have it made binding by the Judge, but again these are not charged to a person who qualifies for mediation Legal Aid if their solicitor has a Legal Aid Contract.
Mediators are helping 1000’s of separating couples around the country to resolve their own conflict and reach their own agreements, at a fraction of the cost of court proceedings, using the combination of a skilled family mediator, together with this Manual, videos, guides and resources on our website.
Also, read what we have to say about costs in the first chapter- Are you thinking about mediation?