Do you Need a MIAM Before Form A Financial Order?

If you are going through a divorce or separation and need to sort out your finances through the court, you will almost certainly need to attend a MIAM before Form A can be filed. This is one of the most common questions we hear at Mediate UK, and getting it wrong can mean your application is rejected, costing you time, money and unnecessary stress.

This guide explains everything you need to know about the MIAM requirement for financial remedy proceedings: when you do and do not need one, what happens at the meeting, how much it costs, and how to book one. Whether you are doing this yourself or working with a solicitor, it will help you understand each step so you can move forward with confidence.

What Is a MIAM and Why Is It Required Before Form A?

A MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is a short, individual meeting with a qualified family mediator. It usually lasts around 45 minutes to an hour, and the purpose is to make sure you understand how mediation works and whether it could help resolve your financial dispute without going to court.

Since April 2014, attending a MIAM has been a legal requirement before making most family court applications in England and Wales. This includes filing a Form A, which is the form you use to start contested financial remedy proceedings during or after a divorce.

The legal basis for the MIAM requirement comes from Section 10(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014, and is set out in Part 3 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010. The rules were strengthened in April 2024, placing greater emphasis on non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) and tightening the exemption requirements.

During your MIAM, the mediator will:

• Explain how the family mediation process works
• Assess whether mediation is suitable for your situation
• Discuss other forms of non-court dispute resolution
• Screen for any safeguarding concerns, including domestic abuse
• Answer any questions you have about the process

If mediation is not suitable, or if the other person refuses to take part, the mediator will sign the relevant section of your Form A, allowing you to submit it to the court.

What Is Form A and When Do You Need One?

Form A, officially called a “Notice of intention to proceed with an application for a financial order”, is the court form used to start financial remedy proceedings. You file it when you and your ex-partner cannot agree on how to divide your finances after divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.

A financial order can cover a range of matters, including:

• Lump sum payments
• Property adjustment orders (transferring or selling property)
• Periodical payments (ongoing maintenance)
• Pension sharing orders
• Maintenance pending suit (interim maintenance while proceedings are ongoing)

You would typically file a Form A when negotiations have broken down, mediation has been unsuccessful, or the other party is refusing to engage. It is the formal step that begins contested court proceedings, meaning a judge will eventually decide how your finances are divided if you cannot reach an agreement.

It is worth knowing that Form A is different from a consent order. If you and your partner have already agreed on how to split finances, you do not need a contested Form A. Instead, you can apply for a financial consent order, which costs just £62 (as of July 2026) and is usually processed without a court hearing.

MIAM Exemptions: When You Do Not Need One Before Form A

While attending a MIAM before Form A is generally mandatory, there are situations where you may be exempt. Since the rules were updated in April 2024, courts scrutinise exemption claims more carefully, so it is important to understand what qualifies and what evidence you will need. The exemptions most likely to apply in a financial case are:

• Domestic abuse, where you have supporting evidence such as a police report, conviction, protective order or a letter from a support service or health professional.
• Urgency, including a risk to life, liberty or safety, or a risk of significant financial hardship if the application is delayed.
• A previous MIAM or other non-court dispute resolution for the same dispute within the past 4 months.
• Bankruptcy, where either party is subject to bankruptcy proceedings (particularly relevant to financial cases).
• Practical barriers, such as being unable to contact the other party, no authorised mediator being available, a disability that cannot be accommodated, or the other party being in prison.

This is a summary in the financial remedy context. For the full list of all 15 exemptions, the exact evidence each one needs, and how to claim it on your form, see our complete guide to MIAM exemptions.

What Happens at a MIAM for Financial Remedy Proceedings?

Your MIAM for financial remedy proceedings follows a similar format to any MIAM, but with a focus on financial matters. Here is what you can expect:

1Book Your MIAM

You can book a MIAM with Mediate UK online, by phone (0330 999 0959), or by email. MIAMs are conducted individually, so you and your ex-partner attend separate meetings. They can be held online by video or face to face.

2Attend Your Individual Meeting

The meeting typically lasts 45 minutes to one hour. During this time the mediator will listen to your situation, explain how mediation works for financial disputes, and assess whether mediation is suitable. The mediator will also carry out safeguarding checks.

3Screening and Suitability Assessment

The mediator will consider whether mediation is appropriate for your case. Factors include the complexity of your finances, the dynamics between you and your ex-partner, and whether there are any safeguarding concerns. If both parties agree to try mediation, joint sessions can begin.

4Outcome

After your MIAM, one of several things will happen:

• Both parties agree to mediate: joint mediation sessions are arranged, and you work towards an agreement that can be turned into a consent order.
• The other party refuses to attend: the mediator signs your Form A, confirming you attended a MIAM and the other party did not engage.
• Mediation is not suitable: the mediator signs the relevant section, allowing you to proceed to court.
• Mediation is attempted but breaks down: the mediator can still sign your Form A so you can proceed.

How to Book a MIAM Before Filing Form A

Booking a MIAM before Form A is straightforward. Here are your options with Mediate UK:

Standard MIAM Booking

Appointments are usually available within 5 to 7 days of your enquiry. These can be held online by video or face to face at one of our locations across England and Wales.

Urgent MIAM Booking

If you need to file your Form A quickly, perhaps because of a looming deadline or because the other party is dissipating assets, you can book an urgent MIAM. One of our family mediators will take you through a 60-minute appointment by video, and you will receive a signed Form A within 24 hours.

What to Bring to Your MIAM

You do not need to bring detailed financial documents to your MIAM. However, it can help to have a general idea of:

• The main assets in your case (property, pensions, savings)
• Any concerns you have about the other party’s behaviour or the fairness of the situation
• Whether you have already tried to negotiate, or whether communication has broken down

What Evidence Do You Need to Prove MIAM Attendance?

When you file your Form A, you confirm in section 2 of the form that you have attended a MIAM. The mediator will have signed the form, or you will have a MIAM code to include if you are filing online through MyHMCTS. The key points are:

• Your MIAM certificate or signed Form A is valid for 4 months from the date of your MIAM or last mediation session.
• If more than 4 months pass between your MIAM and filing your Form A, you will need a fresh MIAM.
• If you are claiming a MIAM exemption, you must provide supporting evidence with your application, for example a police report for domestic abuse, or confirmation of bankruptcy.
• The court will check your MIAM evidence when processing your application, and again at the first hearing.

If you do not provide proper evidence of MIAM attendance or a valid exemption, the court can reject your application, causing delays of several weeks or even months.

Can You Skip a MIAM If You Agree on Finances?

If you and your ex-partner have already agreed on how to divide your finances, you may not need to file a contested Form A at all. Instead, you can apply for a financial consent order, which formalises your agreement into a legally binding court order.

The consent order route is quicker, cheaper and less stressful. The court fee for a consent order is just £62 as of July 2026, compared with £321 for a contested Form A application, and you typically do not need a court hearing.

This is the point many people get wrong. They assume every Form A needs a MIAM, but a Form A submitted for a financial order by consent does not, because a consent order application is specifically exempt from the MIAM requirement under Practice Direction 3A. You only need a MIAM for a contested Form A. At Mediate UK, we offer fixed-fee mediation and legal packages that include mediation sessions, a solicitor-drafted consent order and all the court paperwork.

How Much Does It Cost to File Form A in 2026?

The court fee for filing a Form A is £321 as of July 2026, increased from £313 on 13 July 2026 as part of the annual court fee uplift. Here is a comparison of the key financial remedy costs:

If you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may be eligible for help with court fees. You can apply by completing Form EX160 on GOV.UK.

It is also worth considering the wider costs of contested financial remedy proceedings. Solicitor fees add up quickly if your case goes through all three hearings (First Appointment, FDR and Final Hearing). Total legal costs for a fully contested case can reach £20,000 or more per person, which is why mediation and reaching an agreement early is so valuable.

Where Do I Send Form A?

If you are filing your Form A yourself (without a solicitor), you should send it by post to:

HMCTS Financial Remedy
PO Box 12746
Harlow
CM20 9QZ

You will need to send:

• Three copies of the completed Form A
• The correct court fee (£321) or a completed Help with Fees form
• Evidence of MIAM attendance or a valid exemption with supporting documents

If you have a solicitor, they will normally submit your Form A digitally through MyHMCTS. Once your Form A is processed (usually around 4 weeks), the court will serve a copy on the other party and set a date for the First Appointment hearing, typically 12 to 16 weeks after filing.

How Much Does a MIAM Cost Before Form A?

At Mediate UK a MIAM costs £115 + VAT for a standard appointment or £185 + VAT for an urgent same-day appointment. On a standard MIAM, your signed Form A (your MIAM certificate) is a separate £55 + VAT; with an urgent MIAM it is included in the price. A few important points about MIAM costs:

• Legal aid: if you or the other party qualifies for legal aid, the MIAM and the first mediation session are covered in full for both of you.
• Government voucher scheme: for cases that include arrangements for children alongside financial matters, the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides up to £500 towards mediation costs. The voucher does not cover the MIAM itself, but it does contribute towards joint mediation sessions.
• Value for money: the cost of a MIAM is very small compared with contested court proceedings. Mediation typically resolves disputes within 6 to 12 weeks at a total cost of £2,000 to £4,000 for both parties, compared with 12 to 24 months and £20,000 or more per person for court.

Frequently Asked Questions