Online Family Mediation

Online family mediation is the virtual equivalent of traditional face-to-face mediation. It gives you a safe, confidential space to work through the issues standing between you and moving on, all from wherever you feel most comfortable. There is no need to travel, and no need to sit in a room with your ex-partner unless you want to.

Traditionally, mediation takes place at a mediator’s office. In most cases, each party first meets the mediator individually to discuss their needs, before joining together to work through the issues and finalise arrangements. With online mediation, exactly the same process happens using an internet-enabled device and video conferencing, from the comfort of your own home.

The Advantages of Online Family Mediation

You Are Not Limited By Geography

When a couple separates, one party often moves away, sometimes to another area entirely. Arranging traditional mediation then means someone has to travel much further, and choosing a mediator near one party rather than the other can become just another point of friction. Taking mediation online removes the problem completely. Whether you are in different towns or different countries, you can work together to move forward.

Greater Inclusivity

Mediation should be available to everyone, regardless of age, gender, disability or health. Online family mediation gives everyone the chance to have their say about their future without having to organise transport or overcome mobility barriers.

It Saves Time and Money

A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) usually lasts around 45 minutes, with later sessions running up to 90 minutes. That may not sound long, but once you add preparation and travel, especially during a working day, it adds up. Online, there is no commute: just a quiet room, a connection and your device.

It Is More Convenient

Without travel to factor in, far more times and dates become workable, so it is much easier to fit mediation around your life rather than the other way around.

More Comfort, Less Stress

There is no way around it: separation and divorce are stressful. Taking mediation online can help ease that. Mediation has always recognised that some people cannot face being in the same room as the person they are mediating with, and in those cases each party can be kept separate while the mediator moves between them.

Even where things have stayed amicable enough to share a room, it is rarely as comfortable as being at home. We use Zoom for our online mediations, which provides a virtual waiting room so both parties and the mediator arrive to the same place no matter who joins first. If contact over video is too difficult, or if there has been abuse and one party does not feel safe, the mediator can keep you apart while still speaking to each of you in turn, exactly as they would in the office.

Online Mediation and the April 2024 Rule Changes

Since the Family Procedure Rules changed on 29 April 2024, the courts in England and Wales expect separating couples to have genuinely considered resolving matters away from court before applying. Mediators must now explain all forms of non-court dispute resolution, and a party who unreasonably refuses to attend a MIAM or engage in these options may face costs consequences. Because online mediation is so accessible, with no travel or time off work, it makes meeting that expectation far more straightforward. It also means the old excuses of distance or diaries no longer stand in the way.

The £500 Family Mediation Voucher

If your case involves arrangements for children, you may be eligible for a government voucher of up to £500 towards your mediation sessions. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is not means-tested and has been extended to March 2027. We will check your eligibility at your MIAM. You can read more on our fees page.

Preparing For Online Family Mediation

Family mediation exists to help you through the undeniably stressful period of separation or divorce. Who looks after the children? Who keeps the house, or what share of it? How are the rest of the finances divided? Rather than going through the courts, working with a family mediator helps you resolve these questions and move forward independently, with far less stress and at considerably lower cost.

Online mediation has grown in popularity in recent years, and it is easy to see why: it is easier to find a mutually acceptable time, there are no travel arrangements to make, and it can be done from home. The only equipment you need is an internet-enabled device with a webcam and microphone, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

We use Zoom, which is free and well suited to mediation thanks to its virtual waiting room and optional breakout rooms for added privacy. Where contact between parties is difficult, breakout rooms also let the mediator speak to each of you separately, shuttling the conversation between you. A few simple preparations will help you get the most from your session, whether it is your first MIAM or a later mediation session.

Choose a Comfortable Location

It matters that you feel safe and comfortable during mediation, and there are few better places for that than your own home. You will be able to speak more freely and honestly, and for many people, not having to share a room with a former partner is a real benefit of going online.

Check Your Device

Software. Install the video software in advance. Ask your mediator to send you a link to the right download for your device. If you can, familiarise yourself with it beforehand so nothing feels new or distracting on the day.

Hardware. Video calls drain batteries quickly, so plug your device in for the session if you can, or make sure it is fully charged. If you have a choice of devices, pick the one with the largest screen: you will read expressions and any shared documents more easily. Set the device at eye level so you are not hunched or craning your neck. A laptop can sit on a stack of books, and a phone can be propped against something solid. Having it propped up also leaves your hands free for notes, so keep a pen and paper handy.

Internet connection. Most home connections handle a mediation session comfortably, but choose a spot that is not prone to WiFi dropouts. For desktops and suitable laptops, connecting directly to your router with an ethernet cable is ideal. A note of caution: while 4G and 5G handle video calls well, they use a lot of data, and you may incur charges from your mobile provider. Home broadband is strongly recommended.

Make Sure You Have Peace and Quiet

Your focus needs to be on the discussion and on working with the mediator towards a way forward, with nothing pulling your attention away. Your conversations are private and confidential too, so you do not want to be overheard discussing finances or childcare. If there are children at home, arrange for someone to occupy them, avoid scheduling deliveries or tradespeople, and divert incoming calls to voicemail. Pets can be a comfort to some and a distraction to others; if yours is likely to distract, settle them in another room.

Online Family Mediation FAQs

Is online mediation as effective as meeting in person?

Yes. The process is the same, and many people find they speak more openly from the comfort of their own home. The mediator guides the discussion in exactly the same way, whether you are in an office or on a video call.

What software do I need for online mediation?

We use Zoom, which is free. Your mediator will send you a link and simple instructions in advance. You only need an internet-enabled device with a webcam and microphone.

What if we cannot be in the same video call together?

That is not a problem. Using virtual waiting rooms and breakout rooms, the mediator can keep you completely separate and speak to each of you in turn, shuttling the discussion between you. This also applies where there has been abuse and one party does not feel safe.

Is online family mediation confidential?

Yes. Online mediation is as confidential and legally privileged as face-to-face mediation. It helps to choose a private space where you will not be overheard.

Can online mediation cover both children and finances?

Yes. Online mediation can address arrangements for children, property, finances, or all of these together, just as in-person mediation would.

Do I still need a MIAM for online mediation?

Yes. Every mediation begins with a MIAM, which we also conduct online. It is your individual first meeting, where the mediator assesses whether mediation is suitable and explains your options.