Mediation in Greater Manchester and legal aid

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 Separating or divorcing is tough, and fighting it out in court is expensive and slow. Family Mediation is a way to sort out arrangements for your kids, money, and property with the help of a neutral expert, without having a judge decide for you.

Here's a simple, step-by-step guide focusing on the Greater Manchester area.

Step 1: What is Mediation? (The Basics)

Voluntary - You and your ex must both agree to try it. You can stop at any time.

Confidential - What you say in mediation stays in mediation. Nothing can   be used against you in court later, except for financial documents.

Impartial - The mediator is neutral. They won't take sides, give you legal advice, or tell you what to do. They are there to help you both  talk and find a solution.

You Decide - The mediator helps you find an agreement, but you and your ex make the final decisions. Not a judge.

In short: It's a structured conversation with a professional referee.

Step 2: The Mandatory First Meeting (The MIAM)

Before you can ask the Manchester Family Court to help you with child or financial arrangements, you must speak to a mediator first. This meeting is called a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

What Happens at the MIAM?

• It's 1-on-1: You meet the mediator by yourself (usually for about an hour).  Your ex has their own separate MIAM later.
• The  Mediator will:
  1. Explain  how mediation works and how much it costs.
  2. Check if you can get Legal Aid (which could make your mediation free).
  3. Assess if mediation is safe and suitable for your situation (e.g., if there has been domestic abuse, mediation might not be safe, and you would be exempt).

• The Outcome: If mediation is suitable, the mediator will contact your ex  to invite them to their own MIAM. If mediation is not suitable or your ex refuses, the mediator will sign a court form (Form A, C100 or FM1) so you can apply to court.

Key point for Greater Manchester: Amity Mediation has many qualified, accredited mediators across the boroughs (like Salford, Bolton, Trafford) who can conduct your MIAM quickly, often online or by phone.

Step 3: Getting Financial Help (Legal Aid & Vouchers)

Don't let money put you off. You may get the whole thing for free:

Financial Help Available

Legal Aid - If you are on a low income or certain benefits (e.g.,   Universal Credit). If you qualify, all your mediation sessions are FREE.

Legal Aid Benefit for other party - If you qualify for Legal Aid, your ex also gets their MIAM and the first joint mediation session for FREE, even if   they are not eligible for Legal Aid.

£500  Voucher Scheme

A government fund (currently available) that provides up  to £500} towards mediation costs for cases involving children's   arrangements. Your mediator will check if you qualify.

Action: Ask your Greater Manchester mediator to complete a Legal Aid Assessment at your MIAM. You'll need to show payslips, bank statements, or proof of benefits.

Step 4: Joint Mediation Sessions (The Solution Stage)

If both of you agree to try mediation, you move on to joint sessions. These are usually 90 minutes long and often take place online (Zoom/video) or in a neutral location in and around Manchester City Centre or Stockport).

• The Agenda: You both agree on the list of things to sort out:
  • Children: Who lives where, when they see the other parent, holidays, new partners.
  • Money/Property:  Who gets the house, splitting savings, pensions, debts, and maintenance payments.
• Ground Rules: The mediator makes sure you both speak respectfully, listen,      and focus on the future, not arguments about the past.
• Shuttle Mediation: If you absolutely cannot be in the same room (even online),  Amity Mediation Greater Manchester mediators offer Shuttle Mediation, where you sit in separate rooms and the mediator moves between you.

How Long Does It Take?

• Children-only issues usually take 2-3 sessions.
• Money and property issues usually take 3-5 sessions.
• This  is much faster than going through the Manchester Family Court, which can  take a year or more.

Step 5: The Final Documents (Making it Stick)

When you reach an agreement, the mediator writes everything down in two key documents:

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

A detailed summary of everything you agreed on for children and/or finances.

Open Financial Statement (OFS)

A summary of all the financial information (house value, savings, debt, pensions).

To make it legally binding: You must take these documents to a local solicitor (in places like Sale, Altrincham, or Didsbury) and ask them to draft a formal Consent Order. This Order is then sent to the court to be approved by a judge.

Don't worry: The mediator will give you all the information you need to take this final step.

Areas Covered

Altrincham Bury Cheadle Manchester Moss Side Oldham Old Trafford Prestwich Rochdale Sale Salford Salford Quays Sedgley Park Stockport Swinton Wigan Bolton 

Amity Mediation Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a large, densely populated metropolitan county in North West England, forming a cohesive urban area defined by its history as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and its contemporary status as a dynamic global city. At its heart is the city of Manchester, a powerhouse of commerce, culture, education, and sport, famous internationally for its musical heritage, innovation, and two major football clubs. The county comprises nine other metropolitan boroughs, including the large towns of Bolton and Stockport, which retain strong industrial identities; Wigan, known for its historical mining and rugby league; Rochdale and Oldham, historic centres of the cotton industry; and Salford, which is home to the major media and digital hub, MediaCityUK. Greater Manchester is characterized by its excellent transport network and a unified urban identity built on a legacy of manufacturing and innovation. 

Or to find out more about the mediation services we can offer, click below.