How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost in the UK?

How much does divorce mediation cost in the UK?

Traditional divorce mediation in the UK is charged per session, per person, with most services quoting several hundred pounds per joint session plus separate charges for the initial assessment meeting (MIAM) and the written outcome documents. A typical financial case runs to three to five sessions, so the total commonly lands in the low thousands per couple.

Online mediation is priced differently. On GoMediation.ai the divorce service is £99 to open the case and £299 when you reach full agreement — one payment per case, not per hour, and nothing more to pay if you talk it through over several weeks.

What you are actually paying for

With a traditional mediator you are buying time: a MIAM for each person, joint sessions of typically 90 minutes, and then the drafting of the outcome documents — a Memorandum of Understanding and an Open Financial Statement. Each of those is usually billed separately, which is why quotes that sound modest per session add up.

The variables that move the price most are the number of sessions, whether both people attend each session, whether finances and children are both in scope, and whether you need shuttle mediation (the mediator moving between two rooms), which takes longer.

How mediation compares with solicitors and court

Two sets of solicitors negotiating a financial settlement by correspondence is the expensive route: every letter is billed, and each reply generates another one. Contested court proceedings over finances are the most expensive of all once hearings, directions and barristers are involved.

That comparison is the real reason mediation is recommended. Not because mediation is cheap in isolation, but because an agreement reached directly removes the correspondence, the hearings and most of the delay. See our side-by-side breakdown on the divorce cost comparison page.

Costs people forget to budget for

The court fee to apply for a divorce or dissolution is set by the government and is payable whichever route you take — mediation does not replace it. If you want your financial agreement made legally binding, you also need a consent order, which carries its own court fee and usually a solicitor's fee for drafting or checking it.

Help with Fees may reduce or remove court fees if you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits — check the current criteria on GOV.UK.

Is there any funding available?

Legal aid for family mediation still exists for people who meet the means test, and where one person qualifies the MIAM and first joint session may be covered for both. Separately, the government has at times run a family mediation voucher scheme offering a contribution towards mediation on child-related issues. Availability changes, so check the current position on GOV.UK before assuming either applies.

How online mediation changes the maths

The cost of traditional mediation is driven by scheduling two people and a mediator into the same hour. Online, asynchronous mediation removes that constraint: each person writes when they can, the AI mediator keeps the conversation constructive and neutral, and the record builds as you go.

That is why we can price per case rather than per hour — £99 to open the divorce case and £299 only when you reach full agreement. If you don't reach agreement, the £299 is never charged.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for divorce mediation?

Most couples split the cost equally, but there is no rule — some agree that the person with the higher income pays, or that the cost comes out of a joint account or the eventual settlement. Whoever pays, mediation stays impartial; paying does not buy influence.

Is divorce mediation cheaper than using solicitors?

Usually, yes — substantially — because you are paying for a shared process rather than two sets of correspondence. You may still want a solicitor to check the final agreement or draft a consent order, which is a much smaller piece of work than negotiating the whole settlement.

Do I have to pay for a MIAM?

A MIAM is normally charged per person by an accredited family mediator, unless you qualify for legal aid. You need one before most family court applications, but you do not need one to start talking things through and reaching an agreement between yourselves.

What happens to the money if we don't agree?

On GoMediation.ai you pay £99 to open the divorce case, and the £299 is only charged when you reach full agreement. Traditional mediators charge for the time used whether or not you settle, so ask about their cancellation and part-way terms before you book.

This is general guidance on mediation in England and Wales, not legal advice. Court procedure, financial settlements and arrangements for children can turn on your own circumstances — take advice from a solicitor or an accredited family mediator before making a final decision.