Family and divorce mediation
An equal split is the default and the most common arrangement, because it reinforces that the mediator is working for both of you rather than for whoever is paying. Couples do vary it: paying in proportion to income, paying from a joint account, or treating the cost as a joint debt to be settled out of the final split.
If one person qualifies for legal aid for family mediation, the MIAM and often the first joint session can be covered for both of you.
Neighbour and community disputes
Council and housing-association community mediation schemes are typically free to the people involved. Where you use a private service, splitting the cost is usual — but if one neighbour is the one seeking a change, they sometimes cover it to get the conversation started. On GoMediation.ai a neighbour case is a single £99 payment, so only one of you pays it.
Workplace mediation
The employer pays. Asking employees to contribute towards resolving a workplace issue would undermine the voluntariness of the process, and it is the organisation that carries the cost of the dispute continuing. On GoMediation.ai workplace cases are billed to the organisation, never to an employee.
Does paying affect impartiality?
No, and a good process makes that visible. The mediator does not decide who is right, does not advise either side, and does not take instructions from whoever settled the invoice. On our platform each party has their own private space, and neither side can see what the other says privately — regardless of who paid.
Frequently asked questions
Can we agree that one person pays everything?
Yes. There is no rule requiring an equal split — it is simply the convention. Whatever you agree, put it in writing at the start so it does not become a second dispute later.
Can mediation costs be recovered from the other side?
Not usually. Mediation costs are generally borne as agreed between the parties rather than recovered, though in litigation a court may take an unreasonable refusal to mediate into account when dealing with costs.
Is there free mediation in the UK?
Yes, in places: council and housing-provider community mediation schemes, legal aid for those who qualify in family cases, and ACAS conciliation in employment disputes that have been referred to them.
What do you pay on GoMediation.ai?
One payment per case: £99 for a personal or neighbour case, £99 to open a divorce case with £299 on full agreement, and workplace cases billed to the employer. You never pay by the hour.
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.
Next step
Our pricing page lists what every service costs, with one payment per case and no hourly billing — so you know the total before you start.
See the full price list