Free tool
Mediation vs court: compare the cost and time for your case
Wondering whether mediation or court is the cheaper and quicker way to sort things out? Answer three questions and see the two routes side by side, with every figure taken from an official source. No email address, nothing stored.
This calculator needs JavaScript, which seems to be switched off in your browser.
The short version: mediation typically costs a few hundred pounds per person and takes three to five sessions, while a contested court case starts at £270 or £321 in fees, took an average of 37 weeks for children cases in 2025, and can cost £30,000 or more with full legal representation. See the full comparison guide.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you click is stored or sent anywhere. Figures verified against the sources below on 4 July 2026.
Where every number comes from
| Figure used | Value | Source, accessed 4 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Typical online MIAM, per person | around £138 | Provider price sampling; gov.uk estimates around £120 |
| Joint mediation session (90 minutes), per person | around £216 inc VAT | Fixed-fee provider sample; MoneyHelper cites mediators from £100 an hour |
| Typical number of sessions | 3 to 5 | Family Mediation Council; MoneyHelper says most couples have 3 to 4 |
| Family Mediation Voucher Scheme | up to £500 per case | Ministry of Justice voucher guidance, gov.uk |
| Court fee: children application (C100) | £270 | HMCTS family court fees (EX50) |
| Court fee: contested financial order (Form A) | £321 | HMCTS family court fees (EX50) |
| Solicitor costs: negotiated financial settlement | £2,000 to £3,000 | MoneyHelper, cost of divorce or dissolution |
| Solicitor costs: contested final court hearing | £30,000 plus VAT, or more | MoneyHelper, cost of divorce or dissolution |
| Average time for private children cases to conclude | 37 weeks (2025) | MoJ Family Court Statistics Quarterly, Oct to Dec 2025 |
| Financial remedy applications that are contested | 26% | MoJ Family Court Statistics Quarterly, Oct to Dec 2025 |
Why use this calculator?
Every figure cited
No made-up averages. Each number traces to gov.uk, the Ministry of Justice, MoneyHelper or the Family Mediation Council, with the table above showing exactly where.
Tailored to your case
Children, money or both, legal aid or not, solicitor or DIY: the comparison changes to match the route your case would actually take.
Print it, take it with you
Save your comparison as a PDF to talk through with your ex-partner, a mediator or an adviser. No email gate, nothing stored.
The honest comparison, in two sentences
Mediation is usually the cheaper and quicker route: a MIAM each, then three to five joint sessions, with the £500 voucher and legal aid cutting costs further for many families. Court exists for the cases that need it, and if that is yours, our guides on what happens if mediation fails and family court fees walk you through it.
Either way, most people start in the same place: a MIAM is required before most family court applications, and it is where mediation, funding and your options get explained for your specific situation. The full written comparison is in our mediation vs court cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are these figures quotes for my case?
No. They are typical published amounts from official sources, shown so you can compare the two routes fairly. Your own costs depend on your provider’s rates, how many sessions you need, and how far a court case runs.
Does court really cost £30,000 or more?
That is MoneyHelper’s published figure for solicitor costs in a financial case that runs all the way to a contested final hearing, per person, plus VAT. Cases that settle earlier cost less, which is why the calculator shows a negotiated settlement range too.
Can I get legal aid for court as well as mediation?
Legal aid for family court representation is much more restricted than legal aid for mediation, and mostly applies where there is evidence of domestic abuse. Legal aid for mediation is means-tested only, so many more people qualify. Check both on gov.uk and see our legal aid guide.
Is mediation always the right choice?
No. Mediation is unsuitable where there is unmanaged risk, coercive control or a refusal to disclose finances, and every MIAM screens for exactly that. Read when mediation is not suitable.
Sources
- HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Family court fees (EX50), gov.uk. Accessed 4 July 2026.
- Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly, October to December 2025, gov.uk. Accessed 4 July 2026.
- MoneyHelper, How much does divorce or dissolution cost?, moneyhelper.org.uk. Accessed 4 July 2026.
- Ministry of Justice, Family Mediation Voucher Scheme guidance, gov.uk. Accessed 4 July 2026.
- Family Mediation Council, mediation sessions and costs, familymediationcouncil.org.uk. Accessed 4 July 2026.