What does it cost and how long does it take?

Legal Aid is  available for mediation.

If you are eligible for legal aid this will be assessed at the outset and there will need to be an assessment meeting to see whether mediation is suitable for you as a couple.

ASSESSMENT MEETING BEFORE MEDIATION:-

♦ Both persons eligible for legal aid   -  fees all charged to legal aid agency

♦ One person eligible for legal aid and one person not eligible,  the person not eligible is charged £100 inclusive of vat;  the fees for the person eligible for legal aid are charged to the legal aid agency

♦ Neither  person eligible for legal aid attending together  -   the charge is £75 per person inclusive of vat  

♦ Neither person eligible for legal aid attending separately -  £100 inclusive of vat per person

MEDIATION SESSION COST :-

After the assessment meeting, if it is suitable to proceed with mediation the fees  for each session which lasts 90 minutes will be:-

♦ Both persons eligible for legal aid  -  fees all charged to legal aid agency

♦ One person eligible for legal aid and one person not eligible - the person not eligible is charged £200 inclusive of vat per session ( but see below for reduced fee concession )

♦ To provide a written summary of proposals to settle dispute - £200 inclusive of vat

♦ Neither  person eligible for legal aid  -   the charge is  £200 per person inclusive of vat per session ( but see below for reduced fee concession )

♦ If a person wanting mediation has a disposable income of less than £950 per calandar month(*) ( which disentitles a person to legal aid ), a reduced fee concession applies and a  reduced fee of £150 per person per session inclusive of vat is charged

*calculated using legal aid eligibility system 

The sessions normally last  one and a half hours. Five to six sessions are not uncommon but more or less may be needed. You decide how many sessions are needed as you go along. This can work out significantly less costly than resolving the dispute in court and the court would expect you to attempt mediation as a solution first.

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