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Find a mediator · Swansea

Family mediation in Swansea

To find family mediation in Swansea, put your postcode into the Family Mediation Council register and tick "qualified to sign court forms"[1]. Wales follows the same MIAM rule as England[2][3]. Swansea family court cases are heard at Swansea Civil Justice Centre[4], where Cafcass Cymru, not Cafcass, advises on children[5].

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Typical MIAM, each[6]
Usual MIAM length[7]
Mediation voucher[8]

01/ Mediators

Authorised mediators in Swansea

We list a mediator here only after checking their entry on the Family Mediation Council register, and we have not finished that check for Swansea. Until we have, search the register yourself by postcode, and tick “qualified to sign court forms” to see the mediators who can run a MIAM and sign the confirmation.[1]

Search the FMC register

02/ The law in Wales

Wales, England and the MIAM

There is no separate Welsh MIAM rule[2][3]. The requirement sits in the Children and Families Act 2014, section 10, which extends to England and Wales[2], and Cafcass Cymru's guidance for parents says you must attend a MIAM before applying to the family court unless you meet an exemption[3].

At the MIAM, which usually lasts about an hour[7], an authorised mediator explains mediation and other ways to agree, and checks whether there has been domestic abuse or harm to a child[11]. See what a MIAM is.

03/ The court

Swansea family court: Swansea Civil Justice Centre

The court finder gives the address as Caravella House, Quay West, Quay Parade, Swansea SA1 1SP, and lists childcare arrangements after separation, domestic abuse, financial remedy and adoption among the work it handles[4]. It also gives a Welsh language helpline for Welsh speakers with civil and family matters[4].

Children applications are usually made online or on Form C100[12]; HMCTS says to apply online to avoid delay, and paper forms go to the designated family centre for the child's area[13]. The application must include a mediator's confirmation of MIAM attendance or an exemption[14]. See the C100 application guide.

04/ Cafcass Cymru

Who talks to your children: Cafcass Cymru

In Welsh cases the court sends the application to Cafcass Cymru rather than Cafcass[15][5]. Cafcass Cymru sits within the Welsh Government, acts only when a court requires it, and does not give legal advice or provide mediation[5].

Family courts across Wales work as Child Focused Courts, the model once called Pathfinder[16][17]. Cafcass Cymru usually prepares a Child Impact Report: safety checks with the police and local authorities, conversations with each adult, usually time with the children, and help to reach agreement where that is safe[17]. The report goes to the court and usually to the adults too[17].

If the court orders a parenting course, in Wales it is Working Together for Children, which is free and run by trained independent providers[18]. See what happens after a C100.

05/ Cymraeg

Welsh in court

The Welsh Language Act 1993 lets any party or witness speak Welsh in legal proceedings in Wales, with interpretation arranged; outside the magistrates' courts, rules of court can require notice[19]. The C100 asks about Welsh in its section on attending court[20]. Cafcass Cymru says it provides its service in Welsh and English[21].

06/ Paying for it

Free MIAMs and the voucher

A MIAM costs nothing if you or the other parent qualifies for legal aid; if only one of you does, legal aid covers the MIAM and the first mediation session for both[22]. Otherwise MIAMs typically cost £120–£150 each[6].

The voucher scheme can contribute up to £500 towards mediation in a children dispute[8], but never towards the MIAM[23]. See the voucher scheme.

07/ Distance

Online, or the access exemption

Video MIAMs are allowed[24], and the register has an online mediation filter[1]. If you cannot attend online or by video and no authorised mediator has an office within 15 miles of home, you can claim an access exemption and explain why[25]. See MIAM exemptions.

08/ Barristers and mediation

Mediation barristers in Swansea

A barrister does not need to be part of a MIAM: an authorised family mediator conducts it[26]. What lets a mediator hold your MIAM and sign the court form is FMC accreditation, with an FMC registration number on the form[27], and during mediation the mediator stays neutral and does not advise[28].

If you want a barrister's advice alongside mediation, the Bar Standards Board says you can hire one through a solicitor, or directly if the barrister offers Public Access[29]. A Public Access barrister can advise, draft documents and represent you in many cases, but you may have to handle tasks such as sending documents to court, and you cannot get legal aid that way[29]. The mediator must tell you the advantages of independent legal advice before any final agreement[30].

09/ Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a family mediator in Swansea?

Search the Family Mediation Council register by postcode and tick "qualified to sign court forms"[1]; only authorised family mediators can hold a MIAM[26].

Where is Swansea family court?

The court finder lists Swansea Civil Justice Centre, Caravella House, Quay West, Quay Parade, Swansea SA1 1SP, for childcare arrangements, domestic abuse and financial remedy[4].

Do I need a MIAM in Wales?

Yes, unless an exemption applies: the rule covers England and Wales[2], and Cafcass Cymru says the same[3].

Who is Cafcass Cymru?

Part of the Welsh Government, it gives children in Wales a voice in the family justice system when a court asks it to be involved[5].

Can I hire a barrister directly for a family matter?

You can if the barrister offers Public Access, but you cannot get legal aid that way[29].

10/ Sources

Sources we checked

  1. Find your local mediator — Family Mediation Council
  2. Children and Families Act 2014, section 10 — legislation.gov.uk
  3. Information for parents and carers (private law cases) — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES
  4. Swansea Civil Justice Centre — Find a court or tribunal, GOV.UK
  5. Information about separated parents — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES · What we do — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES · Information for parents and carers (private law cases) — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES
  6. GOV.UK — mediation · FMC State of Family Mediation 2025 (PDF)
  7. FMC MIAM Standards (Aug 2022) PDF
  8. GOV.UK — Family Mediation Voucher Scheme · GOV.UK news, May 2026
  9. GOV.UK — mediation · FPR r3.9
  10. FPR Part 3, r3.8(1)(d)
  11. Family Procedure Rules, Part 3 — Ministry of Justice
  12. GOV.UK — Form C100
  13. Form C100 publication page — HMCTS, GOV.UK
  14. FPR Part 3, r3.7
  15. Practice Direction 12B, paras 8.7–8.9 — Child Arrangements Programme, justice.gov.uk
  16. Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally — Ministry of Justice, GOV.UK (17 March 2026)
  17. Information for parents and carers (private law cases) — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES
  18. Information for parents and carers (private law cases) — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES
  19. Welsh Language Act 1993, section 22 — legislation.gov.uk
  20. Form C100 (06.26), PDF — HMCTS
  21. Practice Framework: Putting Children First (July 2024), PDF — Cafcass Cymru, GOV.WALES
  22. GOV.UK — mediation
  23. GOV.UK — mediation · FMC — Mediation vouchers
  24. GOV.UK — Form C100 page · FMC MIAM Standards (Aug 2022) PDF
  25. Family Procedure Rules 2010, rule 3.8 — legislation.gov.uk · Form FM1 (04.24), PDF — HMCTS
  26. FPR Part 3, r3.1 · GOV.UK — child arrangements/mediation
  27. Form FM1 (04.24), notes — HMCTS
  28. Code of Practice for Family Mediators (v1.5, August 2025) — Family Mediation Council
  29. How to hire a barrister — Bar Standards Board
  30. Code of Practice for Family Mediators (v1.5, August 2025) — Family Mediation Council

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12/ Safety first