MIAM Certificate

Before making an application to the Family Court about child arrangements or financial matters, in most cases you will first need to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). There are some circumstances where an exemption may apply.

The purpose of a MIAM is to make sure you understand the different options available to you for resolving matters without going straight to court.

During your MIAM, you will meet privately with a qualified family mediator. We will talk through your circumstances, consider whether mediation may be suitable and explain the other options available to help you reach arrangements outside of court proceedings.

A MIAM Certificate is essentially confirmation for the Family Court that you have attended a MIAM and explored the options available to you before making a court application.

Attending a MIAM does not mean that you have to mediate.

There may be circumstances where mediation is not suitable for your case. Alternatively, you may be willing to mediate but the other person may decide not to engage in the process. Sometimes, despite exploring the alternatives, a court application may still be necessary.

If you need to make an application to the Family Court following your MIAM, we can issue the relevant MIAM Certificate for you.

The certificate can then be used as part of your application to court.

If you are looking to make an application to the Family Court about child arrangements or financial matters, in most cases you will need to attend a MIAM first, unless a relevant exemption applies.

If, following your MIAM, you still need to make an application to court, the relevant MIAM Certificate will form part of your court application.

We can issue this for you following your MIAM where appropriate, so that you can take the next relevant steps.

Your ex-partner does not have to attend a MIAM before your certificate can be issued.

However, where appropriate, we believe it is good practice to offer them the opportunity to attend their own individual MIAM. This gives them the same opportunity to understand mediation and explore the different options that may be available to your family outside of court proceedings.

There are some circumstances where contacting the other person may not be appropriate, and we will discuss this with you during your MIAM.

If your ex-partner is invited but does not respond to our invitation or decides that they do not wish to attend their own MIAM, this does not prevent you from moving forward.

Where appropriate, we can issue the relevant MIAM Certificate to you so that you can take the next steps with your court application.

Not every case is suitable for mediation, and attending a MIAM does not commit you to starting the mediation process.

Part of the purpose of your individual MIAM is to give you an opportunity to talk with a mediator about your circumstances and consider whether mediation would be appropriate.

If mediation is not suitable, or there is another reason why mediation cannot proceed, we can issue the relevant MIAM Certificate where appropriate, allowing you to take the next steps.

If you need a MIAM Certificate, the first step is to book your individual MIAM.

Your meeting is private and confidential and gives you an opportunity to understand the options available to you, ask questions about the process and consider what the most appropriate next step might be for your circumstances.

If a court application remains necessary following your MIAM, we can issue the relevant MIAM Certificate where appropriate.

Book a MIAM How mediation works

Helpful family mediation guides

Browse Articles

MIAM

June 26, 2026

What is a MIAM Certificate?

So, what is the certificate?

Do I need a MIAM certificate?

Does my ex-partner have to attend a MIAM?

What if my ex-partner doesn’t respond?

What happens if mediation isn’t suitable?

Ready to book your MIAM?

Helpful family mediation guides

What is a MIAM?

Information

Services

Forms