Chester family mediation — MIAMs and finding an accredited mediator

If you are separating or divorcing in Chester, family mediation can help you agree arrangements for children, money and property without a court battle. Before applying to the family court, most people must first attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) with an FMC-accredited mediator. This page explains how mediation and MIAMs work in Chester and how to find a properly accredited mediator.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31

What family mediation covers

Family mediation is a process where an independent, professionally trained mediator helps you and your former partner discuss and resolve issues after separation. It commonly covers:

Child arrangements — where children live, how much time they spend with each parent, schooling, holidays and handovers.
Finances and property — what happens to the family home, savings, pensions, debts and ongoing support.
Communication and co-parenting — how you will deal with each other and with the children as they grow up.

Mediation is voluntary and confidential. The mediator does not take sides and does not make decisions for you; you stay in control of the outcome. Agreements reached in mediation can be recorded and, with the help of your own solicitor, made legally binding.

How MIAMs work in Chester

A MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is a private, one-to-one meeting with a family mediator. It is normally the first step before applying to court:

Under section 10 of the Children and Families Act 2014, most applicants must consider mediation before making certain family court applications. In practice this means attending a MIAM, unless an exemption applies (for example domestic abuse or urgency).
A C100 form is used for child arrangements orders and other children applications; a Form A starts financial remedy proceedings. A mediator who is qualified to sign court forms confirms on these forms whether you attended a MIAM or are exempt.
Applications from the Chester area are dealt with by the family court serving Cheshire. If mediation is not suitable, your mediator will sign the relevant court form so your application can proceed.
Each person attends their own separate individual MIAM — you do not sit down with your ex-partner at this stage. This makes it safer and less pressured, including in cases involving conflict.
Video MIAMs are widely available, so you can usually attend from home rather than travelling to an office in Chester.

Using the FMC register to find a mediator

Only mediators accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) can conduct MIAMs and sign court forms. You can search the FMC register by postcode to find accredited mediators near Chester, and filter for those who offer legal aid, online mediation, or are qualified to see children in mediation:

FMC Register Search

Legal aid and the mediation voucher scheme

Money should not stop you trying mediation:

Legal aid may cover the cost of mediation if you are on a low income or receive certain benefits. If one of you qualifies, the MIAM and first mediation session are usually free for both of you. Check eligibility at GOV.UK check legal aid and read the guidance at GOV.UK family mediation.
The family mediation voucher scheme provides up to £500 towards the cost of mediation where the issues include children — a non-means-tested contribution from the government, applied through your mediator.

Verified mediator services in Chester

Individual verification of FMC-accredited mediators at Chester premises could not be completed this session — the services found advertise MIAMs for the Chester area but we could not confirm full name-and-address details against the FMC register. Services operating in the Chester area that we identified this session (details unverified — confirm directly or via the FMC register):

Barker Mediation — Chester MIAM pages at chester.barker-mediation.com
EH Mediation — Chester pages at chester.ehmediation.com
Manchester & Cheshire Mediation — manchesterandcheshiremediation.com (covers Cheshire)

For a verified, current list of accredited mediators covering Chester, use the FMC register search — it is the only official directory of accredited family mediators in England and Wales.

Not legal advice

This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Family law is fact-specific, and eligibility for legal aid and the voucher scheme can change. Speak to an FMC-accredited mediator or an independent family law solicitor about your own situation before making decisions.

Official links

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.