FAMILY MEDIATION GUIDE

How much does family mediation cost?
A guide to mediation fees

By Emma, Accordia Mediation Founder · 14 September 2026 · 7 min read

If you are considering family mediation following a separation or divorce, one of the first questions you may have is: how much is this going to cost?

There isn’t one standard price for family mediation. The overall cost will depend on the issues you need to resolve, how many sessions you need and whether any additional documents are required.

The good news is that mediation is generally considered a much less expensive route than resolving a dispute through court proceedings. GOV.UK describes mediation as usually cheaper and quicker than going to court.

Understanding how mediation fees work, and what financial support may be available, can make it easier to plan for the process.

Why Is Mediation Priced Per Session Rather Than a Flat Total?

No two separations need the same amount of mediation. Some couples resolve everything in one or two joint sessions; others, particularly where both children and finances are involved, need several sessions over a longer period.

Pricing per session rather than quoting one flat number means you’re never paying for more than you actually need. It also means the best way to get a realistic total for your situation is to talk it through at your Initial Assessment Meeting, where the number and type of sessions needed becomes much clearer.

What Actually Drives the Total Cost?

A few factors typically determine how many sessions and therefore how much a mediation process will cost:

How many issues need resolving. Child arrangements alone is usually more straightforward than child arrangements and finances together.
How much you already agree on. The more common ground you start with, the fewer sessions are usually needed.
Whether joint or shuttle sessions are used. Shuttle mediation (where the mediator moves between you rather than you being in the same room) takes the same time per session but may be needed for a longer stretch of the process in some cases.
Whether documentation is needed. A Memorandum of Understanding or Parenting Plan isn’t compulsory, but most people want a clear written record of what’s been agreed. We share these costs so you can factor this into your overall budget.

How Does This Compare to Solicitors or Court?

This is where mediation’s cost advantage becomes clearest. Contested court proceedings typically involve solicitor fees charged by the hour (often at high rates), stacked across months or, in more contested cases, years. Court application fees, barrister costs (if it reaches a final hearing), and the sheer number of billable hours involved in preparing evidence and attending hearings all add up quickly.

Mediation doesn’t replace legal advice. We recommend to have a solicitor review the Memorandum of Understanding before it’s turned into a formal consent order. However it dramatically reduces the number of expensive hours required, because you and your ex-partner are doing the bulk of the negotiating directly, with the mediator facilitating rather than each side arguing a position through their own lawyer.

It’s worth noting that costs shouldn’t be the only consideration as outcomes made through mediation can also be more long-lasting as they come from alignment and agreement of both parties.

Is Financial Help Available?

Yes, in some circumstances:

The government’s Family Mediation Voucher Scheme offers a contribution of up to £500 towards the cost of mediation for cases involving child arrangements. More details can be found on GOV.UK here and can be discussed in your initial meeting.
Legal Aid may cover some or all of your mediation costs if you meet the financial eligibility criteria, which is means-tested based on income and savings. Unfortunately we’re not able to support Legal Aid at Accordia currently.

Do Both People Pay the Same Amount?

In most cases, each person is responsible for their own fees at each stage, which is part of what keeps the process balanced and neutral. Some couples choose to split costs differently by private agreement between themselves, but that’s a decision for you and your ex-partner, not something the mediation process assumes.

Can we keep mediation costs down?

There are practical things you can do to make the most of the time you spend in mediation.

Coming to meetings prepared can make a significant difference.

If your mediator asks you to gather financial documents or think about particular options before the next session, completing that work beforehand means more of the meeting can be spent moving the discussion forward.

It can also help to identify your priorities.

Not every disagreement necessarily needs to be resolved in the same meeting. Focusing on the issues that genuinely require mediation can make sessions more productive.

Most importantly, mediation works best when both participants are willing to engage constructively with the process, even when they do not agree.

Are there any other costs to consider?

Potentially. The mediator’s fees aren’t necessarily the only costs associated with resolving your separation.

For example, if you are dealing with finances, you may decide that you need independent legal advice alongside mediation. You may also need specialist financial, pension, tax or property advice depending on your circumstances.

If you reach financial proposals through mediation, you will require a solicitor to advise you on them and prepare or help obtain the appropriate legally binding court order.

This doesn’t undermine the purpose of mediation. Mediators are impartial and do not provide either participant with individual legal advice. Solicitors and mediators can therefore play different but complementary roles.

Your mediator will help you understand when obtaining independent advice may be useful.

Understanding Accordia Mediation’s fees

At Accordia Mediation, we believe costs should be clear from the outset.

Our fees are set out transparently so you can understand the cost of your Initial Assessment Meeting, mediation sessions and relevant documentation before deciding how you would like to proceed.

You can see our current prices here on our Family Mediation Fees page.

If you are unsure what type of mediation you might need, you don’t need to work that out before contacting us. We can talk through the process and explain the appropriate next step. You might find it useful to read more about our Family Mediation Services here.

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