Methodology
Statistics methodology
Key facts
- Our statistics come from official sources: the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Aid Agency, HMCTS and the Office for National Statistics.
- We cite the exact publication and the period each figure covers, and we date every page.
- We use the latest published data and say clearly when a figure is provisional.
- We do not combine numbers from different sources in ways that would mislead.
- Where a figure is an estimate or a range, we say so.
Our family mediation statistics pages bring together official data so you can see the bigger picture. This page explains where those numbers come from and the rules we follow when we use them.
Where our data comes from
We rely on official publications. For family court volumes and timeliness we use the Ministry of Justice Family Court Statistics Quarterly. For legal aid and mediation starts and outcomes we use Legal Aid Agency statistics. For divorce numbers we use the Office for National Statistics. For the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme we use figures published by the Ministry of Justice and the Family Mediation Council.
| Topic | Primary source |
|---|---|
| Family court volumes and delays | Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly |
| Legal aid and mediation starts | Legal Aid Agency official statistics |
| Voucher scheme uptake | Ministry of Justice and Family Mediation Council |
| Divorce numbers | Office for National Statistics |
How we present figures
We show the source and the time period for every figure, and we link to the original publication. We use the most recent data available at the time we review a page, and we mark provisional figures clearly. When a number is an estimate, a rounding or a range, we say so rather than presenting it as exact.
What we will not do
We do not cherry-pick a single quarter to imply a trend, and we do not stitch together numbers from sources that measure different things. If two sources disagree, we explain the difference rather than pick the more striking figure. Our aim is that anyone could follow our citation and find the same number.
Frequently asked questions
How current are your statistics?
We use the latest published data at the time each page is reviewed, and we date every page. Official statistics are usually released quarterly or annually, so there is always some lag.
Do you use your own data?
No. We use official published statistics from bodies such as the Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Agency and ONS, and we cite each one.
What does provisional mean?
Some official figures are released as provisional and revised later. Where we use provisional data, we label it so you know it may change.
Sources
- Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly, gov.uk. Accessed 9 July 2026.
- Legal Aid Agency, Legal aid statistics, gov.uk. Accessed 9 July 2026.
- Office for National Statistics, Divorces in England and Wales, ons.gov.uk. Accessed 9 July 2026.