Can I skip mediation and go straight to court?

It is not advisable, except for in limited circumstances. In most family law disputes you must make serious efforts to settle out of court. This includes methods of non court dispute resolution such as mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, or negotiations using a neutral third party.

It is only possible to go straight to court in limited circumstances such as in cases of domestic abuse, urgency, a risk of unlawful removal of a child from the UK, a significant risk of a miscarriage of justice, or a significant financial hardship to the prospective applicant. If a court considers that the parties have not attempted to settle out of court, it can direct the parties to attend mediation.