our charges

Assessment meetings:
The initial meeting with a mediator usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. At this meeting the mediator will check that we hold all your correct details, explain the mediation process and see if you are eligible for free mediation. The mediator will want to know the issues that need to be discussed – either children/parenting issues or financial matters or both – and will take preliminary details and will explain how mediation can help in your particular circumstances.

If on seeing each of you we assess either you or your partner in the mediation as eligible for mediation then the assessment meeting will be free of charge. If you attend an assessment meeting and have to pay but we subsequently see your partner in the mediation and find them to be eligible, you will have your fee refunded [or credited from your mediation costs] as the legal services commission will cover your costs for the assessment meeting as well as theirs. The assessment meeting will also be free of charge if the referral to us is made by your solicitor under the funding code. We ask your solicitor to confirm when the referral is made.

Am I eligible for public funding [legal aid]?
To be eligible the mediator needs to know what capital you have – savings, equity in property, policies, bonds etc and also your income. [If you are mediating financial matters only, your assets may in some cases be disregarded] Your income is assessed for the month prior to the date of your appointment and is based on monthly not four weekly figures.** It includes all income from all sources eg salary/wages or drawings, benefits such as child benefit, tax credits, contribution based JSA or ESA, rental income, maintenance, investment income, money from family and friends. From this total we can only deduct tax & NI, rental or mortgage [not necessarily all of it] child care costs, maintenance you pay out and set allowance based on the number of children you have living with you and any new partner living with you. This total should come to less that £733 per calendar month. There is an eligibility calculator that you can use which can be found at: http://eligibilitycalculator.justice.gov.uk/ecalc/questions.asp or http://legalaidcalculator.justice.gov.uk/calculators/eligiCalc.

If you wish us to assess for legal aid please bring the following to your assessment meeting. If you are living with a new partner you must bring all their information too. If you receive Income Support or income based JSA/ESA then the letter stating you are in receipt [and is income based] will passport you through and you do not need to bring anything else. NO DOCUMENTS – NO LEGAL AID! ** see paragraph above.

If neither of you are eligible for legal aid then the cost of the assessment meeting will be £100 [inclusive of VAT] for each of you if we see you separately or £150 [inclusive of VAT] if you choose to attend together.
We will expect you to pay for this meeting when you attend – we take credit cards and do not charge for them. If you require a FM1 form to enable you to issue court proceedings, this will be given to you following the session and production of this is included in the fee.

If you wish for us to issue form FM1 to enable you to issue court proceedings there are some limited circumstances when we can do this without having seen you for an assessment meeting. In these cases there will be a charge of £30 [inclusive of VAT] for issuing the FM1. This fee will not be charged in cases where you have been in for an assessment meeting.

Mediations:
Unless you are assessed by us as eligible for legal aid, each party to the mediation will be required to pay £150 + vat for each session, scheduled for 90 minutes. Payment is expected at the session and may be made either by cheque, debit or credit card (no additional charge). Unlike the assessment meetings, charges for mediation sessions will apply even if the other party to the mediation gets legal aid.

The session to go through the Summary is often shorter than 90 minutes. The charge remains the same, as this covers the costs of preparing the Summary and where applicable Financial Disclosure.

There are no hidden extras! Our charges include all photocopying, printing, letters, phone calls and administration charges

Child consultation appointments:
Child consultation as part of the mediation process takes place with two mediators but neither parent present. These sessions are usually shorter than mediation sessions – typically 30-45 minutes. Each parent is charged £75 + vat for these sessions unless they are eligible for legal aid.

Time for payment:
Payments are made at each appointment, whether assessment meeting or mediation. We take credit cards, and make no additional charge. An FM1 will not be issued without prior payment.