Our Fees

We provide a highly professional service whilst keeping charges as competitive and affordable as possible. Many clients qualify for FREE mediation through legal aid, eligibility for which is assessed at the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. If not eligible, our fees are detailed below.  There are no additional charges or hidden extras.

MEDIATION INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENT MEETINGS (can be attended separately or together)

• FREE to both clients if one or both eligible for legal aid, otherwise:
• £70 + VAT for individual appointment or £110 + VAT for joint appointment (£55 + VAT each)
• If required, a completed FM1 (required for court applications) can be provided FREE to those attending a MIAM

MEDIATION SESSIONS CHARGE (per 1.5 hour session, fees are per person & based on individual’s income)

• FREE to any client eligible for Legal Aid
• £85 + VAT for clients with annual income less than £30,000
• £110 + VAT for clients with annual income between £30,000 and £60,000
• £135 + VAT  for clients with annual income over £60,000

DOCUMENT CHARGE. (Helpful & comprehensive documents provided both during & at the end of mediation)

• Free if legally aided.
• Child issues only cases: £50 – £100 + VAT (dependant on details covered).
• Property & Finance cases and ‘All Issues’ cases (about property, finance, and children), charge based on individual annual income:
  £130 + VAT for clients with income less than £30,000
  £150 + VAT for clients with income between £30,000 and £60,000
  £170 + VAT for clients with annual income over £60,000
  

COMPARATIVE COSTS OF MEDIATION
For a private client with an annual income of £30,000 – £60,000, a mediation case at Headway covering children, property and finance issues, typically requiring four sessions, would cost a total of £590 + VAT per person, including all documents.

The costs for alternative legal routes will vary considerably from case to case, from approximately £3,000 to £25,000+. According to a BBC report; “The average cost of ending a marriage through the British courts is about £13,000”. According to the Telegraph (April 08) “the average marriage split is now costing couples a massive £28,000.”

“Family disputes that are resolved through mediation are cheaper, quicker and, according to academic research, less acrimonious than those that are settled through the courts.” National Audit Office

PUBLIC FUNDING (LEGAL AID)
Headway is able to provide FREE mediation to clients who are assessed as eligible for Public Funding (Legal Aid). You may be eligible if you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits such as Income Support or Income based JSA or ESA. If eligible, you may also be able to obtain certain legal advice to help with mediation from a solicitor dealing with publically funded family matters.  There is no ‘statutory charge’ for publically funded mediation, which means that mediation is completely free and you will not have to repay the costs at any stage in the future. For people who obtain public funding to progress matters through a solicitor, rather than through mediation, there may be a statutory charge for any Legal Aid given, meaning that some or all of the costs may have to be repaid at a later stage.