Family Mediation Facts & Statistics
The State of Family Mediation in the UK (2026)
A clear, source-referenced summary of the key numbers on family mediation in England and Wales, drawn from the Family Mediation Council, the Ministry of Justice and Mediate UK’s own case data.
Reviewed by Belinda Atkins, Managing Director at Mediate UK · Last updated July 2026
Key facts at a glance
The headline numbers for family mediation in England and Wales in 2025 and 2026.
Mediate UK success rate (2025) for cases where both parties went on to joint mediation and reached a full or partial agreement.
National success rate under the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme (Ministry of Justice, 2023).
of UK adults are very or somewhat aware that mediation is an option (Survation for the FMC, 2025).
mediators on the FMC Register in 2025, 67% of whom are FMC Accredited (FMCA).
rise in legal aid mediation starts in 2024/25, the highest level in 12 years (MoJ).
fewer mediators offering legal aid since 2018, with only 238 left in 2025 (FMC).
typical MIAM cost per person nationally. A MIAM at Mediate UK is £115 plus VAT.
How often does mediation succeed?
Two national measures matter: how many people choose mediation after a MIAM, and how many of those mediations reach agreement. Around 75% of people who attend a MIAM go on to mediate, and the majority of those reach a full or partial agreement. Mediate UK’s own success rate sits significantly above the national average.
The figures behind the chart
Share of mediated cases reaching a full or partial agreement
| National mediation | 74% |
| Voucher scheme | 69% |
| Mediate UK* | 90% |
Sources: Ministry of Justice mediation statistics (national and voucher scheme); *Mediate UK case data, in 2025; Family Mediation Wiki: family mediation statistics (methodology and sources).
National success rate by case type
Cases reaching agreement (%)
| Children arrangements |
|
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| All issues combined |
|
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| Financial matters |
|
Source: Mediate UK, MIAM Success Rate (2026). Children’s cases settle more often because parents share a common goal.
What the national outcomes look like
| Reach a complete written agreement | ~50% |
| Reach a partial agreement | ~20% |
| Do not reach agreement | ~30% |
Even where mediation does not settle every issue, it usually narrows the dispute, so any later court hearing is faster and cheaper.
“The national picture is genuinely encouraging. Around seven in ten couples who reach full mediation settle, and public awareness is also growing. We see this every week with our clients, who almost all reach agreement faster, and for a fraction of the cost, than they would have through court.”
Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK
Does the public know mediation is an option?
A 2025 Survation poll of 1,007 UK adults found that two thirds have some awareness of family mediation. Even so, more people would still turn to a solicitor first, so there is room to raise awareness further.
Who would you turn to first?
For help resolving money, parenting or property issues (%)
| Solicitor / lawyer |
|
|
| Family mediation |
|
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| Don’t know |
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| Elsewhere |
|
Awareness of mediation
“Are you aware mediation is an option?” (%)
| Very aware |
|
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| Somewhat aware |
|
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| Not that aware |
|
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| Not at all aware |
|
Source: Survation survey for the Family Mediation Council, January 2025. Online interviews of 1,007 UK adults aged 18+.
What does family mediation cost?
Mediation is far cheaper than a contested court case. Families arranging matters for children can also claim a £500 government voucher, which often covers the cost of the sessions themselves. There is a mediator cost estimation tool on this page.
| Item | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| MIAM (per person, national) | £150 |
| MIAM at Mediate UK (per person) | £115 plus VAT |
| Government voucher (child arrangements) | £500 contribution |
| Children’s issues, full mediation | Often under £500 |
| Financial issues, full mediation | £500 to £1,500 |
| Legal aid (low income / abuse cases) | Free, if eligible |
Sources: FMC Survey of Registered Family Mediators 2025; Mediate UK.
Mediation vs court: the difference
| Mediation |
|
£800–£3,000 | |
| Contested court |
|
£15,000–£30,000 |
Mediation usually completes in 6 to 12 weeks, compared with 12 to 24 months for court.
Indicative figures, Mediate UK. Costs vary by case complexity.
Family Mediation Voucher Scheme: success by format
Share of voucher cases reaching a full or partial settlement (Ministry of Justice analysis, 2023).
| Voucher case type | Success rate | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| All voucher cases | 69% | 7,214 |
| Mediated together in one room | 73% | 5,539 |
| Also used child-inclusive mediation | 74% | 397 |
| Mediated in person | 71% | 705 |
| Mediated online | 68% | 6,319 |
| One party on legal aid | 70% | 2,122 |
Source: Family Mediation Voucher Scheme Analysis, Ministry of Justice (2023). The average voucher value claimed was £424 across an average of two sessions.
Can people on low incomes still access mediation?
Legal aid funds family mediation for those on low incomes, but access is getting harder. The number of mediators offering legal aid has halved since 2018, mainly because legal aid rates have not changed in 25 years. The FMC warns that legal aid for family mediation is now at a critical point.
Mediators offering legal aid are disappearing
Number of FMC mediators offering legal aid, 2018 to 2025
| 2018 |
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| 2019 |
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| 2020 |
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| 2021 |
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| 2022 |
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| 2023 |
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| 2024 |
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| 2025 |
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Source: FMC Register key figures, 2018 to 2025. Only 86 legal aid mediation services remained across England and Wales in 2025.
Legal aid mediation starts since the LASPO reforms
Legal aid mediation starts by financial year (selected years). Full figures, including MIAMs, are in the table below.
| 2012/13 |
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| 2013/14 |
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| 2018/19 |
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| 2022/23 |
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| 2023/24 |
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| 2024/25 |
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Source: Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Statistics (Jan to Mar 2025), tables 7.1 and 7.2. The 2024 Family Procedure Rules changes are linked to the recent rise in mediation starts.
| Financial year | Legal aid MIAMs | Mediation starts |
|---|---|---|
| 2012/13 | 30,665 | 13,609 |
| 2013/14 | 13,390 | 8,438 |
| 2018/19 | 10,506 | 6,535 |
| 2022/23 | 11,537 | 7,354 |
| 2023/24 | 12,186 | 7,162 |
| 2024/25 | 12,837 | 9,841 |
Source: Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Statistics (Jan to Mar 2025). 2024/25 figures are provisional.
MIAM attendance: the missing second party
A MIAM is a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, the required first step before most family court applications in England and Wales. The applicant must attend, and the other party is expected to, but is not legally required to.
of people who attend a MIAM go on to mediate
of cases proceed to mediation when both parties attend a MIAM
of cases cannot proceed because the second party does not attend a MIAM
The FMC estimates that if respondents had been required to attend a MIAM in 2024/25, there would have been around 4,200 additional legally aided mediations.
The voice of the child
Child-inclusive mediation lets a trained mediator hear directly from a child so their views can inform the decisions being made. The public strongly supports it, but it remains underused in practice.
Should parents hear the views of children aged 10+?
UK public opinion (%)
| A good idea |
|
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| Not a good idea |
|
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| Don’t know |
|
Source: Survation for the FMC, 2025.
of cases involving children aged 10+ actually included child-inclusive mediation (FMC, 2025).
success rate for voucher cases that also used child-inclusive mediation, the highest of any format.
Can the public trust family mediators?
The Family Mediation Council holds a public register of mediators who meet agreed professional standards. The register is accessed over 500,000 times a year and is recognised in the court’s Family Procedure Rules. One caution: “family mediator” is not a protected title, so anyone can use it. Choosing an FMC registered mediator is the public’s assurance of training, supervision, insurance and a complaints process. All Mediate UK mediators are registered with the Family Mediation Council.
Mediators on the FMC Register
Total registered mediators, 2018 to 2025
| 2018 |
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| 2019 |
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| 2020 |
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| 2021 |
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| 2022 |
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| 2023 |
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| 2024 |
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| 2025 |
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Source: FMC Register key figures, 2018 to 2025. In 2025, 67% of registered mediators held FMCA status.
times the FMC Register is accessed each year
of registered mediators are FMC Accredited (FMCA)
average rise in mediation handled per mediator over the past year
Read next
Does a MIAM actually help you avoid court?
Our full guide to MIAM success rates explains what affects whether mediation works, with case studies and a stage-by-stage breakdown of how cases progress from a first meeting to a final agreement.
Thinking about mediation for your own situation?
We can help you resolve financial, property or parenting issues fairly and amicably. Book a free 15-minute call to talk through your options, with no obligation.
Or call us on 0330 999 0959
The state of family mediation in the UK: a 2025/2026 summary
Family mediation in England and Wales is in a stronger position than it has been for years, but the picture is mixed. After a decade of building professional standards, the Family Mediation Council now lists over 1,000 registered mediators, and the courts formally recognise their role. Public awareness is rising, and the 2024 changes to the Family Procedure Rules have pushed more people towards resolving disputes without going to court.
The results back this up. Most couples who reach full mediation settle, and at Mediate UK that figure rises higher still. Mediation remains far cheaper and far quicker than a contested court case. The main concern looking into 2026 is funding: the number of mediators offering legal aid has halved since 2018, and the voucher scheme, while popular, is time-limited. Without action, families on low incomes may find it harder to access help, just as demand is growing.
The picture in three parts:
Awareness is growing
More adults than ever know mediation is an option, and legal aid mediation starts hit a 12-year high in 2024/25.
Access is at risk
Mediators offering legal aid have halved since 2018 to just 238, and the £500 voucher scheme is time-limited.
Assurance is stronger
FMC standards, accreditation and a complaints process now give the public real confidence in registered mediators.
In short: family mediation works, more people are choosing it, and the quality of the profession has never been higher. The task for 2026 is to protect funding so that everyone who could benefit from mediation can actually reach it, whatever their income.
Sources
- Family Mediation Council, The State of Family Mediation 2025 (September 2025).
- Ministry of Justice, Family Mediation Voucher Scheme Analysis (2023).
- Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency, Legal Aid Statistics, January to March 2025, tables 7.1 and 7.2.
- Survation survey for the Family Mediation Council, January 2025 (1,007 UK adults).
- FMC Survey of Registered Family Mediators 2025; FMC Register key figures 2018 to 2025.
- Mediate UK case data, 2025, and MIAM Success Rate guide.
Figures relate to England and Wales. Reviewed for accuracy by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK, June 2026. This page is for general information and is not legal advice.
