Family Law Mediation Lawyers
Staying out of Court allows you to remain in control of the process and your future. Mediation is flexible and can avoid the cost that litigation brings.
Family mediation and dispute resolution are forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) used to help separating couples manage and resolve disputes regarding their divorce, child custody, living arrangements and the division of assets.
If you and your partner choose to separate or divorce, several factors and issues must be considered, from child support to who will remain living in the home. Our mediation lawyers possess extensive experience in all aspects of family law. Here’s how we can assist you:
- Professional Legal Advice — Our family mediation lawyers provide tailored legal advice to clients regarding the family law issues in dispute. We help you understand your legal rights and obligations and provide guidance on negotiating a fair and equitable agreement.
- Confident Representation — We are more than comfortable representing you and your wishes during mediation, either by attending mediation sessions on your behalf or by providing advice behind the scenes.
- Mediation Facilitation — In some cases, our mediation lawyers may also serve as the mediator or co-mediator, helping the parties in a dispute communicate effectively and work towards a mutually acceptable agreement.
- Drafting Legal Documents — Once a settlement agreement is reached, our family mediation lawyers will draft the documents necessary to finalise the agreement. Our team will ensure that the agreement accurately reflects the terms negotiated during the mediation and is legally binding and enforceable.
What is Family Law Mediation?
Meditation requires a trained mediator to hold a space for both parties to voluntarily and confidentially communicate in a bid for them to resolve their divorce property settlement disputes. A mediator will not make any decisions on the property pool or impose a property settlement after separation. They are simply an intermediary that will help calm the conversation so that the involved parties can achieve a fair settlement for both parties. It can be a quicker process, and also less stressful if everyone involved is committed to the process.
The Benefits of Mediation
If you are trying to decide between mediation and litigation, there are several reasons why mediation may be more appropriate for your situation.
- Privacy
The mediation process is more private than going through litigation. All of the meetings are confidential and only the parties involved have control over who is present. - Time
Typically, mediation is a quicker process than litigation because litigation involves the discovery procedure and a slew of pre-trial procedures. - Relationships
Mediation is a calmer way to resolve family law disputes, which means it helps preserve relationships. This is particularly important for people who share children and will have to continue in a co-parenting situation. Mediation opens the line of communication and tries to separate the emotions from the process, so a resolution is less combative and more communicative. - Control
When you take your case to the Court, it puts all of the power and control in the judge’s hands. In mediation, each party has control over the outcome, as long as they are willing to work together to reach an agreement.
What to Expect when working with PB Lawyers Australia
Here are some reasons why people choose us:
- Punctual and Precise: From your first consultation until a successful solution, we will work hard to resolve your matter fast and with precision. We answer all enquiries quickly as we understand how stressful legal pressures can be. And more often than not, time is crucial, so we act promptly. Having the right lawyer in your corner is the most important aspect when dealing with legal matters, so as we are fast, we are also as experienced and thorough.
- Understanding and Perceptive: We understand that being involved in any legal matters can be stressful. So, we take the time to learn your situation and get a good grasp on all the relevant factors and use that information to work for you in the best way possible. We’re here to guide you every step of the way, we will listen to you, offer advice, answer any questions you have and ensure that you have all of the information you need to make an informed decision every time.
- Affordable and Reasonable: There is no surprise in saying that legal fees can be expensive, however, engaging a lawyer may be less expensive than you realise. Doing so will most definitely reduce the amount of stress and the amount of time in dealing with your legal matters. We offer flexible billing arrangements for our services, including event billing, time interval billing and fixed rate fees. We’ll also be transparent with you about the costs surrounding resolving your matter and provide you with a quote once we’ve had a consultation with you and understand your situation.
- Experienced and Knowledgeable: Each member of our trusted team has years of experience in the areas of law they each practice, coming from different cultural and societal backgrounds. This allows us to understand your situation more easily and work together to find the best outcomes for your situation. Like we said before, no two situations are the same, but our vast range of experience means that we can certainly help you.
Our Family Law Mediation Solutions include:
Assisting You Gather Relevant Documentation
Drafting Required Documents
Giving You Advice on the Best Method to Proceed
Providing a Free First Consultation
Negotiating Mediation Terms
Consult With Opposing Lawyer
Advise You in Ascertaining Pros/Cons
Protect You Against Malicious Terms
Join You in Mediation Meetings
Client Testimonials and Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you start family mediation with your partner?
When issues first arise — It’s often best to start mediation early on in the dispute before things become too entrenched and emotions run high. Early intervention can help parties communicate more effectively and reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
When both parties are willing to participate — Mediation requires the participation of all parties involved, so both you and your partner must be willing to engage in the process. If one party is unwilling to participate, mediation may not be effective.
When there is a desire to preserve relationships — Family mediation is often used when parties want to work together to preserve the relationship. This is often the case when separating couples must learn to co-parent.
Who is expected to participate in the family dispute resolution process?
Under Australian Family Law, family dispute resolution is a mandatory procedure that must be undertaken before a couple can submit an application for the Court to hear the matter. As such, both parties involved in the dispute are expected to wholeheartedly and genuinely participate, whether representing themselves or through legal assistance.
Is it right for me?
Many couples want to avoid the slow, expensive and stressful experience of Family Court proceedings yet are unable to discuss the many difficult and often emotional issues they are facing when they separate. If this is you, then we can help.
