Mediation, Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAMS)
£140 plus vat per hour
Family Mediation In Hampshire
Accredited family mediation for couples across Hampshire, with in-person appointments in East Hampshire and video sessions available throughout the county.
Supporting All Families In Hampshire
Hampshire is a large and varied county, and the families who live here are just as varied. Whether you are in a market town, a rural village tucked into the South Downs, a coastal community near Portsmouth, or somewhere along the commuter belt further north, separation brings the same challenges regardless of your postcode.
Choice Family Mediation has been working with families across Hampshire since 2015. We are based in Clanfield in East Hampshire, and we hold regular appointments in our offices there For families further afield across the county, video appointments are available and work just as well for most of what mediation involves.
We bring over 25 years of family law experience to every case, and our approach is the same wherever you are based: calm, professional, and focused entirely on helping both parties find a way forward.
Family Mediation Appointments Across Hampshire
Our main appointments are based in East Hampshire, which sits at the heart of the county and is well placed for families from a wide surrounding area. Clanfield, where our office is located, is straightforward to reach from Petersfield, Horndean, Waterlooville, Rowlands Castle and the A3 corridor.
For families based further west or south in Hampshire, including those in Winchester, Fareham, Havant and the coastal towns, video mediation is a practical and effective option. Many clients who start with a video MIAM find they are happy to continue remotely for some or all of their sessions, particularly when travel with children or work commitments makes getting to appointments difficult.
We will always work with you to find an arrangement that is practical for your situation. If you are unsure whether we can accommodate where you are based, contact us and we will be straightforward with you about what is possible.
What Choice Family Mediation Can Help You With
We approach each case with a fresh outlook, ready to help both parties find a resolution that is acceptable to them as individuals. Our friendly yet professional stance is built upon over 25 years’ experience in family law and our extensive knowledge is put to good use by helping couples communicate calmly in a neutral setting.
Testimonials
Just a selection of feedback from our satisfied customers.
"Just a quick note to let you know that all your hard work between myself and [X] has now actually become an approved financial consent order just today, thank you for your help"
"Thank you for being such a calming and steadying presence and for your wisdom and ability to navigate me through such complex matters. You have always take the time to explain things to help make them manageable to me"
“I have referred a number of clients to Hazel. From a solicitor’s perspective, I have been pleased with how Hazel has guided the discussions towards a sensible solution, followed up by clear and comprehensive notes. Clients have reported feeling at ease in her company and able to address issues that they had been daunted by, which is so important.”
“Hazel has a great knack of keeping the discussions positive and forward-looking, even during some potentially very difficult conversations. She skilfully manages to keep both parties feeling equally well-represented throughout mediation. The mediation process is more efficient, less acrimonious and ultimately a lot cheaper than going to court. I would thoroughly recommend Hazel’s services.”
"Thank you so much for your patience, help and genuine care you showed .. It was such a hard and emotional time for me and your guidance, reassurance and expertise truly helped to calm me and get me through it. Your kindness and understanding made a difficult situation feel more manageable".
"I found mediation a positive environment to discuss all aspects of our divorce in a confidential atmosphere. My ex-husband and I had found it difficult to reach an agreement and we just needed a third party who had no connection to us to help discuss the points we could not agree on. We found Hazel to be very professional and knowledgeable and our mediation has been successful in drawing up plans to progress our divorce. I would highly recommend mediation and discussing with third parties to reduce costs, but also to conduct your divorce in a grown-up manner and avoid the ping pong and stress of lawyer's letters. Give it a try!"
How Family Mediation Works for Hampshire Families
Every case is approached individually. There is no standard template for a family separation, and the team do not work as though there is.
The Cost of Family Mediation in Hampshire
The cost of family mediation in Hampshire depends on how many sessions you need and the complexity of your situation. We talk through pricing openly from the start, so you always know where you stand.
If children are involved, you may be eligible for the government's Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which puts up to £500 towards the cost of mediation. Legal aid may also be available depending on your circumstances. It is worth finding out what you qualify for before ruling anything out, and we are happy to walk you through the options.
Compared to going to court, mediation is almost always significantly cheaper and faster. A disputed financial or child arrangements case can run to thousands of pounds in legal fees and take months to reach a conclusion. Most families in Hampshire who choose mediation reach an agreement in a fraction of that time and at a fraction of that cost.
Hampshire's Top Family Mediator
Choice Family Mediation has been serving families across Hampshire since 2015, founded by Hazel Manktelow following more than two decades working in family law. Based at our office in Clanfield, we have built a genuine understanding of the local legal landscape across East Hampshire and the surrounding area, including the courts, the solicitors and the financial advisers that families here are most likely to encounter. When other professionals are already involved in your case, that familiarity makes coordination straightforward and means nothing gets missed.
We are accredited by the Family Mediation Council and hold recognised status against the national standards set by National Family Mediation. We are also trained child-inclusive mediators, meaning we can meet with children directly as part of the process, giving them a voice without placing them between their parents. In 2023, we were named a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500, recognised for a sensitive but pragmatic approach and the ability to resolve matters without inflaming an already difficult situation.
Winchester Appointments Available
Hazel also works closely with Jayne Llewelyn, a specialist family law solicitor, collaborative lawyer and accredited mediator who holds regular appointments in Winchester. Jayne brings significant experience in complex and high-value cases, including those involving pensions, family businesses, trusts and overseas assets, and she works with families across Hampshire and beyond.
Jayne is a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 UK 2026 and is known for being approachable and practical without ever losing sight of what her clients actually need. She is a committed collaborative lawyer and mediator, which means she is equally comfortable finding non-court resolutions as she is navigating more contested proceedings.
For families in Winchester, Southampton and the wider west and central Hampshire area, Jayne is often the natural first point of contact. Between them, Hazel and Jayne cover a broad stretch of Hampshire, and Hazel is happy to point you towards whichever of them is best placed to help with your situation.
Get In Touch With Our Family Mediation Team In Hampshire
Thinking about family mediation in Hampshire? A quick starting conversation with us costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Get in touch and we will help you work out whether mediation is the right path for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions From Our Clients
I am based in a rural part of Hampshire. Can you still help?
Yes. Many of the families we work with live in villages and rural communities across East Hampshire and the South Downs. For those who cannot easily reach our offices in Clanfield, video appointments are available for MIAMs and joint sessions. A reliable internet connection is all you need, and most clients find the experience just as comfortable as meeting in person.
Do both parties have to be based in Hampshire?
No. It is common for one party to have moved away after separation, sometimes to another part of the country. Video sessions make cross-location mediation straightforward, and we work with couples where the parties are in different towns or even different counties. The mediation itself is what matters, not where each person happens to be sitting.
How does mediation work if my partner and I cannot be in the same room?
We begin with individual MIAM appointments anyway, so you will not be in the same setting as your ex-partner at the start of the process. If joint sessions feel difficult, we can discuss how to manage that practically. The priority is creating conditions where the conversation can actually happen.
Is a MIAM a commitment to go through with mediation?
No. Attending a MIAM gives you information about the process and helps you decide whether it is right for your situation. It does not commit you to anything further. It does, however, satisfy the legal requirement to have considered mediation before most family court applications, so it is worth doing early.
How much does mediation cost in Hampshire?
Session costs vary depending on the complexity of your situation and how many sessions are needed. Many clients are eligible for the government's Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which contributes up to £500 towards mediation where children are involved. Legal aid may also be available in some circumstances. We are happy to talk through costs and funding options openly at your MIAM.
