legal aid and mediation as STBX sees it !!!!

he finally has taken on board there is no 'free' divorce!
We were supposed to be doing this divorce ourselves, but he's already run up a bill. However...his solicitor has, today, told him of a way around not having to repay the legal aid.
Solc told him that if we both went to a family mediator then there would be no costs; and no court costs as he is on benefits (he hasn't paid any up to now because of being on benifits), AND legal aid will not ask for the money back at all ???
Is that right?
If so everyone would be doing it rather than getting into huge debt!

Perhaps I should have posted this in Legal Aid instead of mediation?
I'm so mixed up and unsure of myself these days - I used to be OK

This is a question thats been asked in the last few days and I think if it remember there were a couple of answers for it including by fleagal (?).

T

Thank you for your reply. Where do I look them up, please?

www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Divorce-Forum/...e-Scared.html#135140

This will give you a start

T

hi
when me and s2bx tried mediation about 18 months ago she was on legal aid for her mediation fees and i had to pay, she was told that the money would not be reclaimed if we settled through mediation but if it failed and went to court she would have to pay back her costs out of any money she received as a settlement, this is done to get people to avoid the courts.

hope this helps
mark

Hi, Mark,
Thanks for your reply. So it's only if it goes to court they have to pay it back?
Do you live under the jurisdiction of the West Midlands cos I've read they have some sort of pilot scheme there ? Would yours have been that, or is yours the norm?
Was yours just one mediation visit? How much did they charge you?
Would anyone else know if it's different in different parts of England?