“Quite frankly, families are spending far too much time and money in our courts. Those families, who because of delay become more entrenched, more vulnerable and more stressed while they remain in our court.”

Property Settlement Mediation helps separating couples resolve disputes over the division of property, assets, and financial matters. It is a confidential and voluntary process where a neutral mediator guides discussions to reach fair and practical agreements, reducing conflict and avoiding the time, cost, and stress of formal court proceedings. 

Do I need a lawyer to help me resolve these disputes? 

Absolutely not! The reason that mediation is encouraged by every court in Australia is that it works and it is significantly cheaper than the alternative.  

The average hourly rate of family lawyers is between $400 and $700. Conservatively let’s say your lawyer works on your file 2 hours each week and your matter takes 3 years to resolve (which is the average). On the lower end, your legal costs will be, $124,800 and on the upper end, $218,400. This is excluding Barristers and court fees.    

Now, remember that your ex-partner is doing the same thing. So, using the same example, collectively you both spend $400,000 which will more than likely be removed from the property pool. 

Cutting to the chase, mediation, on the other hand, is affordable for everyone. Our aim is to help families and the general public affected by conflict and disputes, reach solutions without going to Court. We offer a personalised service, flexible appointment times and no waitlist. You can settle your matters online without the need for in-person attendance. Meetings are conducted by teleconference or over the phone.  

While a case in the court system may take years, a negotiated settlement through the mediation process may only take a number of hours. Although the time it takes to reach a resolution varies from case to case, mediation will more often deliver an outcome agreeable to both parties in a fraction of the time it would take to move the case through the legal system.

Our Nationally Accredited Mediators focus on supporting both parties in reaching an agreeable solution with minimal damage to the relationship. This is often not the case within the legal system, but we believe it is absolutely vital when the parties retain a shared investment in their future, be it family or business. We also recognise that disputes affect more than just those directly involved, and we work hard to minimise that impact, particularly within families.

What happens if we agree on some things and not others?

It may be the case that you and your ex-partner can form an agreement on critical issues like parenting and children, but you’re not ready to agree on property. In the latter case, you may have no alternative other than seeking help through mediation to help you and your ex-partner move to that position.