What goes via a meeting of MIAM?

One of the many benefits of mediation is that it’s a way to deal with problems without drawing out conflict, by having direct discussions with your ex-partner with the assistance of a mediator. Mediation allows you to work toward a win-win solution, which can be challenging to achieve in other ways. As mediation can be a quicker and cheaper way to resolve issues that arise at separation, rather than going to court.  However, mediation will only work if both parties are willing to participate and cooperate. Here is a guide that will inform you about mediation and what happens at a MIAM meeting. 

Mediation is a process that starts with a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting, commonly referred to as a MIAM.  During this meeting, you and your ex-partner will have a meeting with a mediator, separately and your ex-partner will not be present at this meeting.  You will have an opportunity to inform the mediator about your situation and the issues you would like to mediate upon.  The mediator will also inform you about the process and options for reaching agreements and most importantly, whether mediation is suitable for you or not. 

What Happens After?

At the end of the MIAM meeting, the mediator will inform you whether your case is suitable for mediation. Then, you can decide whether you want to proceed with mediation or explore another option for resolving issues. The mediator can also give you information about other services which provide help and support. If everyone agrees to try mediation, an appointment is made for your first mediation session.

If you do not want to proceed with meditation,  the mediator might refer you to other organisations that can help you, such as those who can offer counselling, debt advice, or information about how to parent co-operatively after separation, where these are relevant.

If you have children over the age of 10, the mediator will discuss with you the possibility of the children participating in the mediation process.  This is an integral part of the process designed to support the health and well-being of the children and help parents come to good workable decisions. 

A MIAM meeting is a collaborative effort that focuses on communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. After all of this has been taken care of, you will likely have reached a mutually agreeable solution by the end of the session.

If mediation is not suitable for you, or you decide you do not wish to proceed to mediation with your ex-partner, your mediator will issue you with a certificate to confirm you have attended a MIAM meeting.  You can use this certificate, usually referred to as a ’MIAM Certificate’ to start court proceedings, as you usually need this before you can make an application to the court.  

​​Contact Family Law Mediation today

Family mediation provides a safe, confidential environment, allowing you to discuss future arrangements for you and your family. It helps deliver long-term solutions to the best interests of you and your family. It is flexible and can accommodate all of your family’s unique needs, allowing you to keep more control over your future.

Click here to read other frequently asked questions about MIAM mediation. If you think this might be the right direction for you and your family, contact us today to arrange an information and assessment meeting. With over 15 years of experience in supporting couples and families going through a divorce and understand how stressful the experience can be. We offer family mediation Nottingham, mediation Leicester, as well as mediation Derby.

Get in touch by filling out our online form, or give us a call to set up a mediation information assessment meeting to determine whether family mediation is the right approach for your unique situation