Government extends Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, supporting families to resolve family law issues through mediation
28 January 2025
The Ministry of Justice recently extended its family mediation voucher scheme, to help more families to resolve matters outside the court system. The voucher scheme contributes to the cost of family mediation sessions up to a value of £500.
Three of our mediators offer the scheme: Edward Cooke, Grace Parker-White and Michelle Lewis.
Here we set out the key information about the scheme:
What is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?
The family mediation voucher scheme is a time-limited scheme that arose in the wake of the Covid pandemic, to encourage and support families to resolve issues through mediation where possible, without the need for involvement with the courts. The scheme was developed to support the family courts, which were under even more significant pressure as a result of the impact of the pandemic, and to help families resolve matters more quickly.
The scheme has recently been extended to March 2026.
What is a Family Mediation Voucher?
The voucher is worth £500 (inclusive of VAT) per couple to be used towards the cost of mediation. The Family Mediation Council administer the scheme, which is funded by the Ministry of Justice.
You can claim once per family or case, for a one-off voucher of up to £500 towards your mediation costs. All other costs are settled directly with your chosen mediation firm.
Am I eligible for a family mediation voucher?
One of our trained mediators will assess the issues you are looking to resolve at a MIAM (Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting) and advise you on whether you are eligible for a family mediation voucher.
Whilst not all family law cases are eligible, guidelines from the Government are that the following cases are typically eligible:
- A dispute/application regarding a child
- A dispute/application regarding family financial matters where you are also involved in a dispute/application relating to a child
How do I apply for a Family Mediation Voucher?
On attending a MIAM and confirmation of your eligibility, your mediator will apply for the voucher funding on your behalf, and confirm at that time if the voucher has been agreed for your case as they are subject to availability.
Once agreed, the voucher funding will be paid directly to the firm once all mediation sessions are concluded.
Will the voucher cover all my family mediation costs?
Mediation costs vary from case to case, depending on complexity and how many mediation sessions are required. Our mediators will discuss expected costs with you, and any additional costs for mediation will need to be settled directly with the firm. The voucher is intended to be a contribution towards mediation sessions.
Does family mediation work?
Mediation benefits many couples and families, helping them to find resolution to family law matters without the time, stress and cost of the court process. Mediation works in a wide variety of cases, even those with complex issues.
Early analysis from the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme shows that the first 7,200 families to use the scheme, more than two-thirds reached an agreement without the need to go to court.
How can I decide if family mediation is right for me?
If you are considering whether family mediation could be right for you, we have plenty of resources to explore on our website, including our mediation pages, information on MIAMS, child-inclusive mediation and hybrid mediation. Many common questions are answered in our mediation FAQs and our Family Mediation Guide sets out all the information you will need about not only the types of mediation and the process, but how mediation sits within our integrated suite of family law solutions.
If you would like to speak to one of our friendly team, you can contact us on 01243 769001 or by email.
We offer mediation online and in person at our offices in Chilgrove, Brighton and Farnham and by appointment in Chichester and Petersfield.
