The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme — £500 towards mediation

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

What it is

A government scheme providing up to £500 towards the cost of family mediation for eligible cases involving child arrangements disputes. The Ministry of Justice funds it to encourage families to resolve disputes outside court.

Who is eligible

Cases involving child arrangements (where the child lives, who they spend time with)
You must use an FMC-accredited mediator participating in the scheme
Both parties attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting)
The voucher is per case, not per person

Who is NOT eligible

Cases about finances only (property, money — no children involved)
Cases where the voucher has already been used for that case
Cases where the MIAM was attended before 26 March 2021 (the scheme's start date)

How it works

1. Attend a MIAM with an FMC-accredited mediator 2. The mediator assesses whether your case is suitable for mediation and the voucher 3. If eligible, the mediator claims the voucher on your behalf 4. The £500 is credited against your mediation sessions 5. You may need to contribute additional fees if sessions cost more than £500

Interaction with legal aid

If you're eligible for legal aid, the legal aid covers MIAM and mediation sessions — the voucher is not needed (no double-funding)
If one party is eligible for legal aid and the other isn't, the non-eligible party can still get the voucher
See our legal aid mediation gateway guide for details

Costs without the voucher

MIAM: roughly £120 per person (varies by mediator)
Mediation sessions: vary by mediator, typically £100–£150 per person per session

Official links

Voucher scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/family-mediation-voucher-scheme
FMC voucher page: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/mediation-vouchers/
Find a mediator: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with the MoJ, FMC or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.