Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs)

In our experience, using the court system is not the best route for every couple facing divorce or separation. Alternatives such as mediation, collaborative law and arbitration can offer many couples quicker, private, less confrontational and often more cost-effective ways of resolving the issues.

The law supports us in this view. It is now a requirement for anyone wishing to make an application to court to start children or financial proceedings to confirm that they have attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (more commonly known as a MIAM) to consider whether mediation may be an appropriate method for resolving their dispute. There are only very limited exceptions where the court will accept that a MIAM is not appropriate and has not been attended.

The purpose of a MIAM is to give you information regarding the non-court processes such as mediation and to make an assessment as to whether or not your case would be appropriate for mediation if it was something you wanted to explore.

If you attend a MIAM on your own it will likely take approximately 45 minutes.  If you attend together it may take a little longer.  Ultimately, however, you cannot be compelled to mediate with your former partner (and they cannot be compelled to mediate with you).

Our team of specialist family lawyers includes experienced and accredited family mediators who may be able to perform a MIAM for you or when we are representing you we can find another suitably qualified mediator to perform this for you.