what is it?

Under the protocol, before an applicant can make a private law application to the family court in relation to children or finances, they should first contact a family mediation service to arrange a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting.

The court will normally expect all applicants to have complied with the protocol and will expect any respondant to have attended an Information and Assessment meeting if invited to do so.

If court proceedings are taken, the court will ask whether mediation has been considered by the parties, and may refer the parties back to a mediation service before proceedings continue further.

All of our mediators are professionally qualified and trained to meet the requirements of both the Mediation Quality Mark and the College of Mediators.

Appointments are available in Stoke, Stafford, Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Leicester, Crewe, Nantwich, Chester, Liverpool, St Helens, Southport, Knowsley and Manchester.

what will it cost?

As of 1st April 2012 a new fee structure applies. There is now no additional charge to clients for issuing an FM1 under the Pre Application Protocol.  Please see our family fees page for more information or contact us to discuss your case in more detail.