Mediation Information And Assessment Meetings (MIAM)

Who should attend a MIAM?

Anyone thinking about using mediation as a way of resolving disputes following a relationship breakdown, separation or divorce would benefit from attending a MIAM.

If you are considering making an application to Court in respect of a financial dispute or arrangements for your children it is a requirement that you attend a MIAM before making your application. There are a number of exemptions to this that the mediator, your solicitor or the Court can explain in more detail. This requirement which has been in place since April 2011, follows changes that have been brought in by something known as the Pre Application Protocol.

What happens in a MIAM?

The mediator will explain to you in detail how mediation works and how it might be able to assist in your particular circumstances. Other dispute resolution options will also be considered, such as collaborative law or arbitration. Mediation is voluntary so it is important that you understand how it can help before you decide whether to proceed with mediation. You will be asked to provide enough information that will enable an assessment to be made as to whether mediation is suitable in your circumstances. This assessment is generally made once you have both been seen. In some cases it might be more suitable for you to use one of the other dispute resolution options such as solicitor negotiation or the Court, in which case this will be discussed with you.

What happens next?

If you are the person wishing to make an application to Court and require the mediator to sign your court form, you may wish to ask the mediator to contact your former partner (or other family member) first so that they can be invited to attend a MIAM. If they are not willing to attend a MIAM at all, or discuss mediation, you would not need to attend the meeting in person, but can request the mediator to sign the form on that basis.

If you attend the MIAM first and then wish to attend mediation, the mediator will then contact your former partner and invite them to a similar information and assessment meeting. If you do not wish to attend mediation or it is unsuitable in your circumstances then you will be provided with a signed FM1 which will enable you to proceed to Court should you wish to do so.

If you both wish to attend mediation, a first meeting will be arranged on a date and time to suit you both.

What are the costs?

You will be assessed for free mediation. If you are eligible for free mediation, you will be referred to a legal aid mediation practice. If you are not eligible for free mediation the assessment meeting is £70 (not subject to VAT). The provision of the relevant court form is £40 (not subject to VAT)

Testimonials

The mediations sessions that my husband and I received helped us enormously to discuss in an amicable way our finances going forward in our divorce and therefore reaching a settlement amicably. The sessions we received via zoom worked extremely well especially as my husband was then living abroad enabling us to carry on with the process in a manner which didn't instigate relationship tensions which both parties felt developed during negotiations with our respective solicitors.

Adrienne remained professional and sensitive to the upset and trauma that divorce can cause to either party. I felt that her mediation was clear, time efficient and with the ability to diffuse situations which at times became heated in a gentle but controlled manner.

I would most certainly have no hesitation in recommending Adrienne to anyone who unfortunately finds themselves going through a divorce. I would like to add that mediation not only saved my husband and I most certainly large solicitor fees but more than this it has enabled us to separate in an amicable way which at one time felt impossible. After 11 years of marriage this has been a gift in order to remember the good that we had together and not to be bitter because of the nature of the divorce process.

I can't fully express really just how helpful, reassuring and supportive I found working with you to be. You helped me to find a way through such difficult discussions and decisions at such a confusing and vulnerable time. Thank you so very much.

I was really pleased with it. I felt comfortable that we were going through things with a level headed, tactful guide.

I cannot think of any way to improve your service. It was especially tricky through lockdown and the fact that we were able to keep meeting in a safe, supportive and productive way was amazing.

Mediation with you exceeded my expectations. Having had several sessions with a different mediation service, I was apprehensive and actually pretty fearful of how the process would leave me feeling. You always made me feel reassured and I felt that our family was in good hands. Your calm and sensitive approach, along with your considerable expertise was invaluable and I so appreciated your honesty and objectivity. I always felt listened to and that the whole experience was impartial and balanced, with the welfare of the girls at the centre of everything. I would have been happy and confident for you to meet with the girls had we reached that point, knowing that you would be sensitive to them and their needs too.

Thank you so much for all your help and advice. I have found the experience invaluable and still often refer back to some of the things we talked about to guide my decisions and actions.

You were very helpful and approachable and fair. You kept us on track when conversations went off on a tangent & allowed us to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

I would highly recommend Adrienne Cox for any couple who is going through a divorce ( and especially where a young child is involved as was in our situation ). Adrienne is very professional, highly skilled and knowledgeable.

It has been a long road with many ups and downs between myself and my husband but Adrienne has always remained very professional, neutral and very patient. We got there in the end, thanks to Adrienne,with an amicable, healthy relationship between ourselves which is the best outcome possible for our Son and a clearer future for us all.

I was very impressed with your professional service and the way the sessions were conducted in a calm and understanding environment.

I am satisfied and convinced that I couldn't have found a more competent, professional and sympathetic mediator and mediation service than that offered by yourself and your mediation service.

Just to let you know that the consent order has now been approved, the house transferred and the decree of absolute through, so all done and dusted thanks to mediation.

I didn't know what to expect having never been through it before but was very satisfied with your service. I really didn't know where to turn but your service really helped me.

The client reported that the mediation with you was really good. You were understanding but firm and he said he thought they had all come away from mediation feeling progress had been made with them all having compromised.