Editorial policy
Editorial and sourcing policy
Key facts
- Every guide is researched from primary sources, drafted by the Mediation Guide Editorial Team and reviewed by an FMC-accredited mediator.
- We cite official sources, gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk, justice.gov.uk and the Family Mediation Council, and date every page.
- We use AI tools to help draft and structure content, and a human editor and an accredited mediator check every page before it is published.
- We do not rank or compare named providers, and we take no payment to feature any organisation.
- We correct errors openly and update pages when the law or the figures change.
This page explains how Mediation Guide is written and checked. We want you to be able to trust what you read here, and to see exactly where our facts come from. If you ever spot something that looks wrong or out of date, please tell us through the contact page.
How we research
We build each guide from primary sources first. For the law, that means legislation.gov.uk and the Family Procedure Rules on justice.gov.uk. For process and funding, it means gov.uk and the Family Mediation Council. For data, it means official statistics from the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Aid Agency and the Office for National Statistics. We explain how we use data in our statistics methodology.
How we write and check
A guide is drafted by the Mediation Guide Editorial Team, edited for clarity and accuracy, and then reviewed by an FMC-accredited family mediator. We use AI tools to help research and draft, which lets us cover more ground, but a person is responsible for every page, and an accredited mediator signs off the substance before it goes live. We are open about this because transparency matters more than pretending a machine was not involved.
| Stage | Who | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Editorial Team | Primary sources gathered and figures verified |
| Draft | Editorial Team + AI tools | Content drafted and structured in plain English |
| Edit | Human editor | Checked for accuracy, clarity and UK style |
| Review | FMC-accredited mediator | Substance reviewed and signed off |
| Publish + date | Editorial Team | Page dated and sources listed |
Sourcing and citations
Every guide ends with a Sources list showing the official pages we relied on and the date we checked them. Where we mention a figure, such as a court fee or a MIAM cost, we tie it to its source. We prefer official and primary sources over secondary commentary, and we avoid citing other commercial sites as authorities.
Updates and corrections
Family law changes, and so do fees and forms. We review pages when we become aware of a change, and we date each page so you can see how current it is. If we get something wrong, we fix it and, where the change is material, we note what changed. To report a correction, use the contact page.
Not legal advice
Mediation Guide gives general information about family mediation in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and does not create a professional relationship. For advice on your own situation, speak to a solicitor or an accredited mediator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mediation Guide use AI to write content?
Yes, in part. We use AI tools to help research and draft, but a human editor and an FMC-accredited mediator check and are responsible for every published page.
What sources do you trust?
Primary and official sources: legislation.gov.uk, gov.uk, justice.gov.uk, the Family Mediation Council, and official statistics from the Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Agency and ONS.
Do you take payment to feature companies?
No. We do not sell placements, rank providers or run paid listings. Links to other organisations are citations, not adverts.
How do I report an error?
Use our contact page. We check reports against the source and correct pages promptly where needed.
Sources
- Family Mediation Council, Code of Practice, familymediationcouncil.org.uk. Accessed 9 July 2026.
- GOV.UK, About government statistics, gov.uk. Accessed 9 July 2026.