Mediate UK launches legal aid family mediation and free eligibility checker

Mediate UK is opening legal aid-funded family mediation appointments across England and Wales from Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, alongside a free online checker to help families see if they qualify. The move comes as demand for mediation rises and the number of legal aid mediators has fallen sharply since 2018.

Why it matters: - Legal aid-funded mediation can make family dispute resolution affordable for low-income households that might otherwise go to court. - The launch lands as Ministry of Justice data shows legal aid mediation starts rose 37% in 2024/25, while the supply of legal aid mediators has dropped about 50% since 2018. - Mediate UK says the expansion gives families a quicker way to check eligibility before booking.

What happened: - Mediate UK is now offering legal aid-funded family mediation across England and Wales, with appointments available from Monday 10 August 2026. - The service has launched a free online legal aid eligibility checker that gives people a likely qualification result in a few minutes. - Mediate UK is a Legal Aid Agency contracted provider for family mediation.

The details: - Family mediation legal aid is means tested only. - People who meet the income, savings and capital rules qualify regardless of the dispute type or whether abuse has been part of the relationship. - When a person qualifies, the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, or MIAM, the joint mediation sessions and associated paperwork are covered in full. - When only one party qualifies, that person’s MIAM and mediation are funded, and the non-qualifying party can also have their own MIAM and first joint session covered. - The family mediation voucher scheme can add up to £500 per family toward mediation costs. - The voucher is not means tested. - The voucher applies only to child arrangements cases and does not cover the MIAM. - Legal aid for a solicitor in most private family cases was withdrawn on 1 April 2013 under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. - Solicitor legal aid remains available in domestic abuse cases and cases involving child safety if applicants provide evidence and pass the means and merits tests. - Legal aid for family mediation was never withdrawn and remains available to families on low incomes. - Mediate UK says legal aid resources are available at the company’s legal aid guide. - Mediate UK also launched a site focused on legal aid information and an independent family mediation guide.

Between the lines: - The launch addresses a mismatch between growing demand for funded mediation and a shrinking pool of providers. - Mediate UK is trying to reduce confusion between family mediation legal aid and solicitor legal aid, which often follow different rules. - The eligibility checker is also a lead-generation tool, but it may help families avoid delays and uncertainty before contacting the service.

What's next: - Families in England and Wales can start booking appointments from 10 August 2026 if they qualify. - Mediate UK will likely use the new checker and resource sites to steer more families toward mediation before court proceedings. - Jess Knauf, director of client strategy at Mediate UK, said the company wants its 15 years of experience to reach people who could not usually afford it. - Jess Knauf said 90% of clients who completed joint mediation with Mediate UK last year reached a full or partial agreement.

The bottom line: - Mediate UK is betting that clearer eligibility rules, free screening and legal aid funding will bring more low-income families into mediation at a time when demand is rising and provider numbers are falling.