Last updated: August 2026
by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Reviewed by Belinda Atkins, Managing Director, Family Legal Ltd. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 26 August 2026.
Key Points
- A MIAM certificate is the mediator’s signed confirmation that you attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM)
- For a C100 application, it is not a separate document: the mediator signs the MIAM section of the C100 form itself
- The court will not accept most C100 applications without it, unless a valid exemption applies
- It is valid for 4 months, so you will need to submit your C100 within that window
- Only an FMC-authorised family mediator can sign it, and exemptions exist for domestic abuse, urgency and child protection concerns
Quick Answer
A MIAM certificate is the signed confirmation from an accredited family mediator that you attended a MIAM before applying to the family court. For a C100 application it takes the form of the mediator’s signature in the MIAM section of the C100 form, and the court will not process your application without it unless an exemption applies. It is valid for 4 months from the date it is signed.
If you are preparing a C100 application, the MIAM certificate is the one piece of the puzzle the court checks before anything else. Get it right and your application moves forward. Get it wrong, or leave it out, and your C100 form is returned unprocessed, adding weeks of delay at a time when you want answers about your children. It is also worth checking early on whether you need a MIAM at all, because a small number of applicants are exempt.
This guide explains what a MIAM certificate is, why the court requires it, where it sits within your C100 application, how long it stays valid, and the exemptions that let some people apply without one.
What Is a MIAM Certificate?
A MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is a one-to-one meeting with a family mediator, usually lasting 45 to 60 minutes. The mediator explains how mediation and other out-of-court options work, and assesses whether they could be suitable for your situation. You can read more about what happens at a MIAM on the Family Mediation Council website.
The MIAM certificate, sometimes called a mediation certificate, is the mediator’s formal, signed confirmation that this meeting took place. It records who attended, the date, and the outcome, for example that mediation was assessed as not suitable, or that the other person declined to take part. Only a mediator authorised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) can sign it, which is why the court treats it as reliable evidence.
One point that catches people out: for a C100 application, the MIAM certificate is not a separate piece of paper. The confirmation is built into the C100 form itself, in the MIAM section that your mediator completes and signs. A separate form called the FM1 still exists, but it is used to confirm a MIAM for other applications such as the C1 and C2, not the C100. People use “MIAM certificate” loosely to cover both, and mediators and courts will understand either term.
Why Do You Need a MIAM Certificate for a C100 Application?
The requirement comes from Section 10 of the Children and Families Act 2014, supported by Practice Direction 3A of the Family Procedure Rules. In plain English: before you ask the family court to decide arrangements for your children, the law requires you to attend a MIAM, or to qualify for an exemption. Parliament’s aim was simple. Many disputes can be resolved through mediation, which is usually quicker, less expensive and less stressful than a contested court process.
The MIAM certificate is how you prove to the court that you have met this requirement. When court staff receive your C100 form, they check the MIAM section first. If it has not been signed by an authorised mediator and no exemption has been claimed, the application is returned without being issued. You would then need to attend a MIAM and resubmit, which can add several weeks to a process that already typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from submission to the first hearing.
Attending a MIAM does not commit you to mediation. If the mediator assesses that mediation is not suitable, or the other parent will not engage, the certificate confirming that outcome is exactly what allows your court application to proceed.
Where the MIAM Certificate Fits in the C100 Process
Here is the sequence from start to finish, with the MIAM certificate as the gateway step:
- Attend your MIAM: a one-to-one meeting with an FMC-authorised mediator, in person or by video. The other parent is usually invited to attend their own MIAM separately.
- The mediator signs your confirmation: if mediation is not going ahead, the mediator completes and signs the MIAM section of your C100. This signed section is your MIAM certificate.
- Complete the rest of the C100 form: the current version is 02.26, and our guide on how to complete a C100 form walks through it section by section.
- Submit within 4 months: most C100 applications are now filed online through MyHMCTS, with a court fee of £270 as of July 2026 (Ministry of Justice, July 2026 fee update). You can see the full breakdown in our guide to family court costs in 2026.
- The court issues your application: with a valid MIAM certificate in place, the court can process the C100, notify the other parent, and list the first hearing.
“The single most common problem we see is timing. People attend their MIAM, then spend months gathering their thoughts before submitting the C100, only to find the four-month window has closed and they need a fresh certificate. We always tell clients to treat the MIAM and the C100 as one project, not two, so the certificate is still valid when the form reaches the court.”
Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK
Book Your MIAM
Need a MIAM Certificate for Your C100?
A MIAM is the required first step before most C100 applications. Book with an FMC-accredited mediator and have your Section 4 signed within 48 hours, with an urgent 24-hour option if you have a deadline. Free if you qualify for legal aid.
How Long Is a MIAM Certificate Valid?
A MIAM certificate is valid for 4 months from the date the mediator signs it. Your C100 application will need to reach the court within that window. If more than four months pass, the court treats the MIAM as out of date, and you would need to attend another MIAM and have the confirmation signed again before applying.
The same 4-month rule works in your favour in one situation: if you attended a MIAM within the last four months for a related dispute, or there are existing ongoing proceedings, you will not usually need a new one. Your mediator can confirm whether your earlier attendance still counts.
MIAM Exemptions: When You Do Not Need a Certificate
Some applicants can submit a C100 application without a MIAM certificate. The C100 form has a dedicated section where you tick the exemption you are claiming and, where required, describe the supporting evidence. The main exemptions under Practice Direction 3A are:
- Domestic abuse: where you or the children have been affected by domestic abuse and you can point to accepted evidence, such as a protective order, a police record, or a letter from a health professional or support organisation
- Child protection concerns: where a child is the subject of local authority involvement, such as a child protection plan or ongoing enquiries
- Urgency: where there is a risk to the safety of you or the children, or a risk a child may be removed from the country, and any delay would cause harm
- Previous MIAM attendance: where you attended a MIAM in the last four months, or there are existing proceedings about the same issue
- Practical barriers: for example, no authorised mediator can offer an appointment within 15 business days, the other person cannot be traced, or one of you is in prison or lives outside England and Wales
Exemptions should only be claimed where they genuinely apply. The court can look behind a claimed exemption, and if a judge decides it was not valid, they can pause your case and direct you to attend a MIAM before it continues, which loses you far more time than attending one at the start. Our full guide to MIAM exemptions covers each category and the evidence the court expects in more detail.
Mediate UK
Could Mediation Help You Avoid Court Altogether?
Many parents who attend a MIAM go on to reach a full agreement through mediation, without ever submitting a C100. It is usually quicker and less expensive than a contested court process, and the government’s £500 mediation voucher can help with the cost of sessions in child arrangements cases. Our sister service Mediate UK can talk you through it.
In Summary
A MIAM certificate is the signed confirmation from an FMC-authorised mediator that you attended a MIAM, and it is the gateway to a C100 application. For the C100, it takes the form of the mediator’s signature within the form itself rather than a separate document, and it stays valid for 4 months from signing.
Without a valid certificate or a genuine exemption, the court will return your application unprocessed. Book your MIAM early, submit your C100 while the certificate is still valid, and only claim an exemption where the evidence clearly supports it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a MIAM certificate the same as a mediation certificate?
Yes. “MIAM certificate” and “mediation certificate” both refer to the mediator’s signed confirmation that you attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. For a C100 application, this confirmation is signed within the C100 form itself rather than issued as a separate document.
How long is a MIAM certificate valid for?
A MIAM certificate is valid for 4 months from the date the mediator signs it. If you do not submit your C100 application within that window, you will usually need to attend another MIAM and get a fresh confirmation before the court will accept your application.
Who can sign a MIAM certificate?
Only a family mediator authorised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) can conduct a MIAM and sign the confirmation. A solicitor, counsellor or unaccredited mediator cannot sign it, and the court will not accept a C100 with a MIAM section signed by anyone else.
Do both parents need a MIAM certificate for a C100 application?
No. Only the applicant, the person submitting the C100 form, is legally required to attend a MIAM. The other parent will usually be invited to attend their own MIAM, and it is generally sensible for them to do so, but their refusal does not stop your application. The mediator simply records the outcome on your confirmation.
What happens if I submit a C100 without a MIAM certificate?
If your C100 arrives at court without a signed MIAM section and no valid exemption, court staff will return it unprocessed. You would then need to attend a MIAM, have the confirmation signed, and resubmit, which typically adds several weeks to your case.
How much does a MIAM certificate cost?
Through C100Form.co.uk, a MIAM with an FMC-accredited mediator costs £138, which includes your signed Section 4 confirmation within 48 hours. It is free if you qualify for legal aid, which for family mediation is means-tested on your income and capital alone.
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