Most applicants will, before issuing any court application, have to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting or a MIAM. MIAMs are "options" meetings designed to give you information about all the options available to you to resolve family disputes, for example, mediation, collaborative law, solicitor negotiation and litigation. A mediator will talk through the options with you and you will be able to discuss what will suit your family situation best. The mediator will also consider whether you and your partner are suitable for mediation and, if not, the mediator will sign a form FM1 that then enables you to issue court proceedings if you wish to do so. It is not necessary for you and your partner to attend a initial meeting together, although you may do so if you wish to. If you both decide that you would like to mediate after you have found out about it, then meetings usually take place with both of you and the mediator together. For more information see Family Mediation.
In certain circumstances you do not need to attend a MIAM and can issue proceedings without taking that step. This could include, for example, where there are urgent issues to resolve.
Court proceedings are begun by one party filing a form A.
The court then fixes the first appointment 12 – 16 weeks ahead.
The court also notifies both parties of the timetable for exchanging documents before the first appointment.