Legal Aid for Family Mediation: How to Get Free Support
Legal Aid remains fully available for Family Mediation. The UK government actively funds mediation because it is proven to be a faster, less confrontational way to resolve disputes. All our mediators all have access to Legal Aid funding via Help 2 Mediate.
If you are eligible, Legal Aid doesn't just cover the mediator's fees—in some cases it can
also cover legal advice from a solicitor to help turn your agreement into a legally binding
order.
We help with:
Family • Workplace • Commercial • Probate • Property • Community
What Does Legal Aid for Mediation Cover?
If you are eligible for Legal Aid funding, it covers mediation for a wide range of family disputes , ranging from child arrangements to complex pension sharing.
If you qualify, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) will pay for:
- Your MIAM: The initial Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting is free.
- All Mediation Sessions: There is no limit on the number of sessions, provided the mediator agrees they are productive.
- The Paperwork: The drafting of your Parenting Plan or Memorandum of Understanding.
- Legal Help (Help with Mediation): This is a specific fund that allows you to speak with a solicitor to give you legal advice during the mediation process and potentially to formalise the agreement afterward.
The "One Qualifies, Both Benefit" Rule
If one party is eligible for Legal Aid but the other is not:
- The MIAM is free for both parties.
- The first full mediation session is free for both parties.
- After the first session, the non-eligible person will have to pay the mediator's standard rate, while the eligible person continues for free, unless other funding is available.
How Do I Qualify for Legal Aid?
Eligibility is based on a "Means Test". That means we look at your income, outgoings, and capital. We will ask you to provide evidence (bank statements, wage slips) to us in order to complete the assessment.
1. The Income Test
- Gross Monthly Income: Generally, your total income must be below £2,657 (this increases if you have more than 4 children).
- Disposable Income: After deducting certain "allowed" expenses (tax, NI, rent/mortgage, childcare costs), your disposable income must be below £733 per month.
2. The Capital Test
- Savings and Assets: You must generally have less than £8,000 in liquid assets (savings, shares, etc.).
- Home Equity: If you own a home, a portion of the equity is assessed. However, the first £100,000 of equity is often disregarded in family disputes where the home is the subject of the conflict.
3. Passporting Benefits
You are often automatically eligible for the income portion of the test if you receive:
- Universal Credit.
- Income Support.
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- Guarantee Credit (part of Pension Credit).
All Help 2 Mediate advisers are specialists in assessing for Legal Aid funding, so we will talk you through each stage of the process and we only request the evidence needed for qualification.
If you receive Universal Credit and don’t own any property, a screenshot of your latest Universal Credit payment is often all that is required to qualify.
You can check your eligibility at gov.uk or simply call us and ask to be assessed. We can provide an in-principle response straight away.
2-minute free assessment. No obligation
Legal Aid vs. The £500 VOUCHER SCHEMEIt is important not to confuse Legal Aid funding with the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which we also offer. |
||
|
Feature |
Legal Aid |
Family Mediation Voucher |
|
Eligibility |
Income & Asset based (Means-tested) |
Not means-tested (Open to all) |
|
What it covers |
All sessions + Legal advice |
Up to £500 toward joint sessions only |
|
Applicable Cases |
Children & Finances |
Only cases involving children |
|
Repayment |
Usually never |
Never |
What if I Don't Qualify for Legal Aid funding?
If you are above the threshold, don't panic. The £500 Government Voucher Scheme mentioned above is currently available to help most parents with the cost of child-related disputes regardless of their income. We also offer payment plans via Klarna if you are not eligible for either funding type.
Learn more about the Government Family Mediation Voucher Scheme
Next Steps: Find a Legal Aid Mediator
To access free mediation, you must use a mediator who holds a contract with the Legal Aid Agency.
Signing up to Help 2 Mediate automatically provides access to mediators offering this funding.