Last updated: July 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 22 July 2026.
Key Points
- A MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is a one-off meeting. Mediation is the ongoing process that may follow it.
- The MIAM is the step legally required before you can file a C100. Mediation itself is voluntary and never forced.
- A MIAM is usually held individually. Full mediation involves both parents working with the mediator to reach agreement.
- After a MIAM, the mediator can sign the MIAM section of your C100 so you can apply to court, whether or not you go on to mediate.
- Many parents attend a MIAM, decide to try mediation, and resolve things without ever filing a C100 at all.
Quick Answer
The difference in MIAM vs mediation is simple: a MIAM is a single assessment meeting required before you apply to court, while mediation is the ongoing process where you and your ex work with a mediator to reach agreement. Everyone applying for a C100 must attend a MIAM unless an exemption applies. Whether you then go on to mediate is entirely your choice.
If you are preparing to apply to court for a child arrangements order, you have probably come across two terms that sound almost identical. Understanding MIAM vs mediation matters, because they are not the same thing, and mixing them up is one of the most common reasons parents feel confused about what they actually need to do next. Before you can file a C100, there is one step you will need to complete first, and it helps to know exactly what that step is.
In this guide we explain what each one is, how they differ, and why the MIAM is specifically the meeting required before you can apply for a court order about your children. By the end, you will know which one you need, when, and what happens after.
What is a MIAM?
MIAM stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. It is a short, one-off meeting with a family mediator who is accredited by the Family Mediation Council.
The meeting does two things. First, it gives you information about mediation and the other ways of sorting out arrangements without a judge deciding for you. Second, the mediator assesses whether mediation would be safe and suitable in your situation.
A MIAM is usually held individually, so you attend on your own and your ex attends separately.
It typically lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. Nothing is decided about your children at a MIAM, and you are not sitting in a room negotiating with your ex-partner. It is an assessment and an information session, not a negotiation. You can read a fuller walkthrough in our guide to what happens at a MIAM.
What is mediation?
Mediation is the process that can come after a MIAM. If both of you agree to give it a go, you move on to joint sessions where you and your ex-partner sit down with the same mediator and work through the things you need to agree, such as where the children live, how time is shared, and how holidays and handovers work.
Mediation is voluntary. The mediator does not take sides and does not impose a decision. Their role is to help the two of you find an arrangement you can both live with. Most families need somewhere between one and four sessions, depending on how much there is to work out. Reaching agreement this way is usually quicker and far less expensive than a contested court case, and it keeps the decisions about your children in your hands rather than a judge’s.
MIAM vs mediation: the key differences
The table below sets out the difference between MIAM and mediation side by side, so you can see at a glance where they part company.
Is a MIAM the same as mediation?
No. A MIAM is not the same as mediation, and this is the point that trips most people up. The simplest way to hold the difference in your head is this: the MIAM is the door, and mediation is the room behind it. You have to go through the door to see what is inside, but you are never obliged to stay.
You can attend a MIAM, listen to what the mediator says, and decide mediation is not right for you. That is a completely valid outcome. The mediator will then sign the relevant part of your C100 to confirm you attended, and you are free to apply to court. Equally, you might attend the MIAM, feel reassured, and choose to try mediation instead. Both routes start with the same meeting.
Book Your MIAM
Need a MIAM Before Your C100?
The MIAM is the required first step before most C100 applications. Book yours with an FMC-accredited mediator and we will complete and sign the MIAM section of your C100 within 48 hours, so you can apply to court without delay. An urgent 24-hour option is available, and your MIAM is free if you qualify for legal aid.
Why the MIAM is the step required before a C100
This is where the MIAM vs mediation distinction really matters for the court process. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires anyone applying for certain family court orders to attend a MIAM first, unless an exemption applies. A C100 is the form you use to apply for a child arrangements order, and it sits squarely within that requirement. You can read more about the form itself in our guide to what a C100 form is.
The important part is that the requirement is to attend a MIAM, not to complete mediation. The court is not asking you to have tried and finished the mediation process. It is asking you to have sat down with an accredited mediator, heard about the alternatives to court, and had your situation assessed. Once you have done that, the mediator completes and signs the MIAM section of your C100, and your application can proceed.
There are situations where you do not need a MIAM at all, for example where there is evidence of domestic abuse or a genuine emergency. Our guide to MIAM exemptions explains when they apply and how to claim one on your form.
“We see this confusion almost every day. Parents arrive worried they are being forced into a room with their ex to negotiate, when all the court actually asks for is that first meeting. Once people understand that the MIAM is just the assessment, and mediation is a choice they get to make afterwards, the whole thing feels a lot less daunting. And a good number of them, having come in expecting to file a C100, decide to try mediation and never end up in court at all.”
Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK
What happens after your MIAM
Once your MIAM is done, there are three common outcomes:
- You both agree to try mediation: the mediator arranges the first joint session and you begin working towards an agreement.
- Mediation is not suitable or not wanted: perhaps your ex will not engage, or the mediator assesses it is not appropriate. The mediator signs your C100 and you apply to court.
- You attend, decide to file anyway: you have met the requirement, so you can proceed with your application whenever you are ready.
If your ex refuses to attend their own MIAM, that does not block you. You can still attend individually, and the mediator can sign your form so your application is not held up. If you would like to know how the requirement works for each parent, see our guide on whether both parents need to attend a MIAM. Once your C100 is filed, the court will usually list a first hearing (the FHDRA) within around four to six weeks, though busy courts can take longer.
Mediate UK
Could Mediation Help You Avoid Court?
Filing a C100 is not the only way forward. Many parents reach a full agreement through mediation and never need a judge to decide. It is usually quicker, less stressful and far cheaper than a contested court case, and for child arrangements you may be able to use the government’s family mediation voucher scheme, worth up to £500 per family towards the cost of sessions.
In Summary
When it comes to MIAM vs mediation, the key thing to remember is that a MIAM is a one-off assessment meeting, while mediation is the ongoing process that may follow. The MIAM is the step the court requires before you can file a C100, and it can be signed off whether or not you decide to mediate. Mediation itself is always voluntary.
If your next move is to apply to court, booking your MIAM is the practical first step. And if there is any chance of reaching agreement without court, it is worth using that same meeting to explore whether mediation could resolve things for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a MIAM the same as mediation?
No. A MIAM is a single information and assessment meeting, usually attended individually, that checks whether mediation is suitable. Mediation is the ongoing joint process where both parents work with a mediator to reach agreement. You must attend a MIAM before most C100 applications, but mediation itself is always voluntary.
Do I have to do mediation if I attend a MIAM?
No. Mediation is voluntary. After your MIAM you can choose not to go ahead, and the mediator will sign the MIAM section of your C100 so you can apply to court instead.
Which one do I need before filing a C100?
A MIAM. The court requires you to attend a MIAM before it will accept most C100 applications, unless a valid exemption applies. You do not need to complete mediation, only to attend the MIAM and have the mediator sign your form.
How much does a MIAM cost?
A MIAM with C100Form costs £138 per person and includes signing the MIAM section of your C100. It is free if you qualify for legal aid, which is means-tested. The family mediation voucher of up to £500 cannot be used towards the MIAM, only towards mediation sessions.
What if my ex will not attend a MIAM?
You can still attend your MIAM individually. If your ex declines, the mediator can sign your form so your C100 application is not held up. The court may take a dim view of a parent who refuses to engage with mediation without a good reason.
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