Legal Aid & Family Mediation Voucher Scheme in Hampshire
Worrying about the cost of mediation should not stop you from taking an important step. Hants Family Mediation can help you understand what funding support may be available — including legal aid and the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme — so you can make a more informed decision about your next step.
Funding support is not guaranteed and depends on eligibility, case type and availability. This page is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Two Ways Funding May Help
- Legal aid may help if you meet financial eligibility criteria
- Family Mediation Voucher Scheme may contribute up to £500 for eligible cases
- Voucher is usually linked to child-related disputes
- Legal aid may cover the MIAM appointment, where eligible
- Both options are discussed at the MIAM stage
- Clear cost information provided before you commit
Eligibility must be assessed individually. Rules and availability may change.
You Are Not Alone
“Separation is already difficult enough. Worrying about the cost of getting help should not make it harder than it needs to be.”
Many people in Hampshire want to try mediation but feel unsure whether they can afford it. It is a completely understandable concern — especially when separation may already involve financial pressures, housing changes, childcare arrangements and legal uncertainty.
You do not need to have every detail worked out before reaching out. A confidential conversation is a simple first step, and there is no pressure or obligation.
Understanding Your Funding Options
Depending on your circumstances, there may be support available to help with some or all of the costs of family mediation. The right option depends on your individual situation.
Legal Aid
Based on your financial circumstances and the type of family issue. May cover MIAM appointments and mediation sessions for those who qualify.
- Income and savings assessed
- Evidence of benefits may be needed
- Type of family dispute considered
- May also affect the other person’s MIAM cost
Mediation Voucher Scheme
A government-funded scheme that may contribute up to £500 towards mediation sessions in eligible cases — usually those involving children.
- Linked to child-related disputes
- Applied for by the mediator on your behalf
- Paid directly to the mediator, not to you
- Does not cover the MIAM appointment
Clear Cost Discussion
Whether or not funding applies to your situation, you will always receive clear, transparent information about session fees before you commit to anything.
- MIAM appointment fee explained
- Session costs discussed upfront
- No hidden charges or surprises
- Options explained if funding does not apply
Important: Funding is Not Automatic
Legal aid depends on financial eligibility. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme depends on case type, suitability and voucher availability. Your eligibility should be assessed before you rely on any form of support. Rules can change, so it is important to check your current position at the time of your enquiry.
What Is Legal Aid for Family Mediation?
Legal aid is government funding intended to help people who cannot afford the cost of legal proceedings or related services. In the context of family mediation, legal aid may help eligible individuals with the cost of a MIAM appointment and, where suitable, mediation sessions.
Eligibility is based primarily on your financial circumstances — including your income, savings and any benefits you receive — and on the type of family issue involved.
Legal aid is not available to everyone. It needs to be properly assessed before you can rely on it, and it does not remove the need to attend a MIAM.
One Person Eligible May Affect Both
In some cases, if one person qualifies for legal aid, the other person attending the same MIAM stage may also benefit from a reduced cost. A mediator can explain how this may work in your situation.
Legal Aid May Help With:
- MIAM appointments, where you are financially eligible
- Family mediation sessions linked to your dispute, where eligible
- Mediation involving child arrangements after separation
- Family disputes arising from divorce or relationship breakdown
- Certain issues relating to finances, property or children
- Cases where both parties may benefit from cost support
What You May Need to Provide:
- Evidence of your income (payslips, accounts or benefit statements)
- Details of savings and capital assets
- Information about any means-tested benefits you receive
- Details about the family dispute you need help resolving
We Do Not Provide Legal Advice
A mediator is a neutral and impartial professional. They do not act as your solicitor, cannot give you independent legal advice, and do not take sides. If you need advice about your legal rights or a binding legal agreement, you may need to speak with a solicitor separately.
What Is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?
The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is a government initiative designed to help eligible families resolve certain disputes — particularly those involving children — outside of court. It may provide a contribution towards the cost of mediation sessions.
Key Points to Understand
- May provide a one-off contribution of up to £500 towards eligible mediation sessions
- The voucher is not cash paid to you — it is claimed by the mediator and paid directly to them
- Usually linked to disputes involving children, or financial issues where children are also involved
- Does not normally cover the cost of the MIAM appointment
- Depends on case suitability, eligibility and voucher availability at the time
- If more sessions are needed beyond what the voucher covers, additional fees may apply
When the Voucher May Apply
The voucher scheme is most commonly linked to cases involving:
- Disputes about children and child arrangements
- Parenting time, contact or residency discussions
- Communication arrangements between separated parents
- Financial matters where there is also a child-related issue
- Co-parenting discussions following separation
Not Every Case Qualifies
If your dispute relates solely to finances or property and does not also involve a child-related issue, the voucher scheme may not apply. A mediator will assess suitability at the MIAM stage.
Legal Aid vs the Mediation Voucher Scheme
Both forms of support are different. Understanding how they work can help you ask the right questions at your MIAM appointment.
Basis: Financial eligibility — income, savings, benefits.
Covers: May help with MIAM and mediation sessions if you qualify.
Who applies: Assessed individually, usually by the mediator or a solicitor.
Payment: Applied against the cost of your MIAM and/or sessions.
Evidence needed: Yes — financial documents required.
- Means-tested
- Family dispute type matters
- May benefit both participants in some cases
Basis: Case type, suitability, and voucher availability.
Covers: Mediation sessions only — not the MIAM appointment.
Who applies: The mediator applies on your behalf.
Payment: Paid directly to the mediator, up to £500.
Evidence needed: Not means-tested — but case must qualify.
- Usually child-related disputes
- Subject to availability
- Does not cover all sessions in every case
In some circumstances, a person may be eligible for both legal aid and voucher support. This can be discussed at your MIAM appointment.
Who This Service Helps
This page is for anyone in Hampshire trying to understand whether financial support for family mediation may be relevant to their situation.
You may find this helpful if you are:
- Worried about the cost of family mediation
- Separating or going through a divorce
- A parent trying to agree child arrangements
- Unsure whether legal aid could apply to your situation
- Wondering whether the mediation voucher scheme may apply
- Trying to avoid or prepare for court proceedings
- Needing a MIAM before a court application
- Wanting honest, clear information about costs before committing
- In a dispute involving finances, property or children
- Unsure about the difference between legal aid and the voucher scheme
This service may be especially relevant if:
- You are on a low income or receive means-tested benefits
- Your dispute involves children or child arrangements
- You want to explore mediation but are not sure you can afford to start
- You have been asked by a court or solicitor to attend a MIAM
- You want mediation to proceed without it feeling financially overwhelming
- You need to agree parenting arrangements but feel stuck
No Obligation to Proceed
An initial conversation about funding and mediation does not commit you to anything. You are welcome to ask questions, understand your options, and take time to decide what feels right for you.
From First Enquiry to Mediation Sessions
You do not need to have everything figured out before you get in touch. Here is what the process typically looks like when you contact Hants Family Mediation about funding and mediation support.
Initial Enquiry
You get in touch with Hants Family Mediation and explain that you want to understand mediation costs or whether funding support may be relevant. You do not need any documents at this stage — just the basic details about your situation.
Basic Information Gathered
You may be asked some initial questions about whether you are separating or divorcing, whether children are involved, the nature of the issues you need to discuss, and whether you need a MIAM. This helps identify what information may be relevant.
Funding Options Discussed
A mediator can help you understand whether legal aid or the voucher scheme may be relevant to your case. If legal aid may apply, they can explain what financial evidence you may need. If voucher support may apply, this is usually explored at the MIAM stage.
MIAM Appointment
A MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is a confidential, one-to-one meeting with a mediator. It helps you understand whether mediation may be suitable and what the next steps could be. Funding options, voucher eligibility and next steps are all discussed at this stage.
Mediation Sessions
If both people agree to take part and mediation is suitable, sessions are arranged. The mediator will explain clearly what funding may cover, what it may not cover, and whether any additional fees may apply.
Clear Cost Confirmation
Before moving forward, you will have clear information about MIAM costs, session fees, whether legal aid may apply, whether voucher support may apply, and what your options are if mediation is not suitable or if funding does not cover all costs.
Mediation Doesn’t Always Have to Be Face-to-Face
For some families in Hampshire, attending in-person sessions together can feel difficult or unsafe. There are other options.
Online Mediation
Online mediation allows sessions to take place via video call. It can be a practical option if travel, distance, work commitments or childcare make attending in person difficult.
Funding options such as legal aid and the voucher scheme may also apply to online mediation sessions, depending on eligibility. A mediator can confirm this for your specific situation.
Learn About Online MediationShuttle Mediation
Shuttle mediation allows the mediator to move between separate rooms — or separate calls — rather than both people being in the same space at the same time.
This can be helpful where direct communication feels difficult, where there are safety concerns, or where both people need time and space to discuss matters calmly. Suitability is always assessed carefully beforehand.
Learn About Shuttle MediationYour Wellbeing Comes First
Confidential & Neutral
All conversations about mediation, legal aid and funding support are handled respectfully and confidentially. The mediator remains neutral at all times — they do not take sides, and they will not pressure either person into any agreement.
Mediation is a voluntary process. Both people must be willing to participate for sessions to take place.
Confidentiality Has Limits
Whilst mediation is confidential, there are exceptions relating to safeguarding — for example, where there are concerns about harm to a child or a vulnerable person. A mediator will always explain this clearly before sessions begin.
When Mediation May Not Be Suitable
Before mediation begins, suitability and safety are considered carefully. Mediation may not be appropriate in all situations. This is especially important where there are concerns about:
- Domestic abuse or a history of violence
- Safeguarding concerns involving children
- Intimidation, coercion or fear of direct contact
- Significant power imbalance between participants
- Circumstances where one person may be at risk
If mediation is not suitable for your situation, the mediator will explain this clearly and help you understand what other options may be available to you.
Discuss Your Situation ConfidentiallyServing Families Across Hampshire
Hants Family Mediation supports families across Hampshire who are looking for a clear, calm and practical way to resolve issues following separation. Whether you are in a town or city, or in a more rural area of the county, we are here to help.
Online Mediation Also Available
If you are unable to attend in person, online mediation may be available. This can be particularly helpful if travel is difficult, if you have childcare commitments, or if work arrangements make daytime appointments challenging. Funding support such as legal aid and the voucher scheme may also apply to online sessions — a mediator can confirm this for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Aid & Mediation Vouchers
In some cases, yes. Legal aid may help with the cost of family mediation if you meet the financial eligibility criteria. This usually depends on your income, savings, any benefits you receive, and the type of family issue involved. Eligibility is not automatic and must be formally assessed. A mediator can explain what evidence may be required at your MIAM appointment.
Usually, no. The voucher scheme is intended to contribute towards the cost of mediation sessions, not the MIAM appointment itself. If you are eligible for legal aid, legal aid may help with the cost of the MIAM. If you are not eligible for legal aid, there will be a MIAM fee — a mediator will explain this clearly before your appointment.
The voucher scheme may currently provide a one-off contribution of up to £500 towards eligible mediation sessions. This is a contribution, not necessarily full payment for all sessions. If your case requires additional sessions beyond what the voucher covers, further fees may apply. The voucher value is subject to change, and availability must be confirmed at the time of your enquiry.
No. Not every case is eligible. The voucher is most commonly linked to disputes involving children — such as child arrangements, parenting time, or financial matters where there is also a child-related issue. If the dispute only concerns finances or property and has no child-related element, the voucher may not apply. Case suitability and voucher availability also need to be confirmed at the time.
No. If your case is eligible, the mediator applies for the voucher funding on your behalf and the payment is made directly to the mediator. You do not receive the money as cash or a bank transfer. The voucher is applied to reduce the cost of your mediation sessions.
In some circumstances it may be possible to have the benefit of both, as legal aid and the voucher scheme are separate forms of support with different eligibility criteria. Whether both may apply depends on your specific situation. This can be discussed at your MIAM appointment, where a mediator can explain what may be relevant to your case.
For mediation sessions to take place, both people typically need to agree to participate. However, each person usually attends their own MIAM appointment separately before any joint mediation sessions begin. You can attend a MIAM even if you are unsure whether the other person will agree to mediation.
If the other person is not willing to participate, mediation may not be able to proceed. The mediator can help you understand what this means for your situation, and whether there are other options available — including whether a MIAM certificate may be relevant for court proceedings. You can still attend a MIAM independently.
You may need to provide evidence of your income, savings, capital assets and any means-tested benefits you receive. This could include recent payslips, bank statements, benefit award letters or similar documentation. The exact requirements will be explained to you as part of the eligibility process.
If funding does not apply to your situation, you can still enquire about mediation. A mediator will explain the session fees clearly, what is involved, and whether mediation may be suitable. Mediation is often significantly more cost-effective than court proceedings, and many people find that the overall cost is lower than they initially expected.
Worried About the Cost of Mediation?
You may have options. Hants Family Mediation can help you understand whether legal aid or the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme may be relevant to your situation — without pressure and without obligation. If you are separating, divorcing or trying to resolve child arrangements in Hampshire, you are welcome to get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Funding support is not guaranteed and eligibility varies. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need legal advice about your specific rights or circumstances, please speak with a qualified solicitor.