You can calculate whether you are eligible for Public Funding using the
LSC (Legal Services Commission) eligibility calculator, at
Legal
Aid Calculator or refer to the information below.
Public Funding
Will mediation be free to me?
If I use mediation, will I have to pay back my fees to the Legal Services
Commission?
What evidence of income will I need to apply for Public Funding?
Can I be automatically eligible for Public Funding?
Our fees
If I am not eligible for Public Funding,
what will I have to pay for mediation?
Family Focus Fees
Will I have to pay if I use the
Family Focus service?
Will mediation be free to me?
At your first appointment you can ask to be assessed on your eligibility to public funding. If you qualify, the Legal Services Commission will meet the entire cost of your mediation at legal aid rates. If you are not eligible you will be required to pay our usual mediation rates. Where one person is eligible for Public Funding the first meeting is free to both.
To
find out if you are eligible prior to your meeting, refer to the Legal
Services Commission's Legal Aid Calculator
You will not be eligible for Public Funding if your gross income is greater than £31,000.
You will be automatically eligible for Public Funding if you receive Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers' Allowance, or Pension Credit. Please bring relevant documentation to verify your entitlement.
To be assessed for Public Funding please bring to your first appointment your National Insurance number and proof of income/capital - we are required to see these documents before we can offer Publicly Funded Mediation
.
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If I use mediation will I have to pay back my fees to the Legal Services
Commission?
No. If the LSC pay for your fees mediation will be free of charge and
the cost will not have to be repaid at any time in the future. Solicitor's
fees paid for by the LSC are later recoverable.
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What evidence of income will I need to apply for Public Funding?
We are required by the Legal Services Commission to see some evidence
of your income and capital and to take a note of your National Insurance
number before free Mediation can be granted.
The Legal Services Commission requires you to sign to the effect that
you have provided "true" information and that nothing relevant
has been "withheld".
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Can I be automatically eligible for Public Funding?
Yes, you are automatically eligible if you receive Income
Support or Income Based Job seekers' Allowance or Guarantee State Pension
Credit. Please remember you need to bring along some documentation to
verify this.
In all other circumstances it will depend on your income and capital.
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If I am not eligible for Public Funding, what will I have to pay
for mediation?
Mediation Appointment Charges
| First Appointment for all areas of Mediation |
£75 per person (1.5 - 2 hours) |
| *Child Only Mediation |
£125 per person (1.5 - 2 hours) |
| All Issues Mediation /Property & Finance |
£175 per person (2 hours) |
| Memorandum of Understanding |
£175 per person |
You can expect it to take between 2 -4 mediation sessions depending on the complexity of issues.
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Family Focus
We operate a sliding scale of fees for this service, please call
01273 550563 for further details.
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