Family Dispute Resolution , Arbitrations & Family Mediation

We are offering mediations for property and parenting matters for $2,200.00 for a half day mediation (up to 3 hours) and $4,400.00 for a full day mediation.

Again, we offer the opportunity for the issue of a S60I certificate and our mediators are all accredited under the National Mediation Standards and are specialist family

A Certificate is issued in accordance with section 60I of the Family Law Act. This is a certificate that is filed with any court application to indicate that Family Dispute Resolution has been attempted, and the outcome of that mediation. In cases where Family Dispute Resolution and family mediation has been deemed not suitable, or the other party refuses to participate, the Certificate will indicate this.

The Legal Aid Commission provides funding for suitable applicants to participate in conferencing. This type of family dispute resolution is recommended by the Commission prior to any grants being awarded to proceed to Court.

The Commission funds the solicitor to attend with the client. In the past, our firm has found these conferences to be extremely beneficial for clients in reaching agreements and there is a very high success rate reported in reaching agreements. At the conclusion of a conference by Legal Aid a section 60I Certificate can be issued on request of either party.

If funding is provided for a conference then the Legal Aid Commission will invite the other party or parties to participate. There is no compulsion on anyone to attend a conference, although if a party is legally aided (or applies to be legally aided) then they will need to provide a compelling argument as to why they should not attend a conference if they wish to obtain any ongoing funding.

Conferences are generally not conducted when matters involve allegations of physical or emotional violence or abuse of children. However, conferences can still occur via telephone or shuttle conferences, meaning the parties do not conference in the same room.

Legal Aid Conferences have a chairperson who is the mediator for the conference. The chairperson/s does not tell you what to do or give you advice or even their opinion of what will happen if your matter went to Court. Their role is to control the mediation and ensure that all parties are safe and comfortable.

The Conference is confidential. Each person who participates in the conference signs and is bound by a Confidentiality Agreement which precludes evidence being given of anything said or done at a conference. The confidentiality of the process allows all parties to clearly consider their “best and worst” outcomes and to “reality test” those outcomes (i.e. to consider how realistic it may be that they will achieve what they want if they go to Court).

If agreement is reached then terms of Settlement will usually be prepared and signed by all parties at the conference. Legal Aid funding is then provided to enable Consent Orders to be obtained from the Court.

At the end of the Conference the Chairperson reports back to the Legal Aid Commission and recommends whether funding should continue. They also advise of any agreement that has been reached.

Contact Our Sydney Family Law Office If You Need Any Help with Family Mediation or Family Dispute Resolution Services. We focus on resolving situations that is in best interest of everyone involved especially children.

Parenting coordination is a style of dispute resolution that is a child centred process to help parties in high conflict parenting matters.
The role of this dispute resolution technique is to appoint an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner who also has specialised training in parenting coordination known as “the parenting coordinator” to assist parents to organise ongoing parenting arrangements.  Parenting coordination can be used before commencement of any court proceedings to help work out arrangements, during any high conflict court matter and in many cases, after the court orders are made to assist with ongoing implementation of any final orders.

Throughout the process of parenting coordination there is education, mediation and case management and there is monitoring by the parenting coordinator appointed by the parties to ensure the best outcomes of their children.

The main role of the parenting coordinator is to assist parties with ongoing disputes particularly disputes that are likely to continue after agreements are reached.  The parenting coordinator may be able to help to address issues of the ability of parents to work together for agreed outcomes for the child or children as well as to establish and maintain a co-parenting relationship and this is done by reducing parental conflict in scheduled organised meetings to discuss issues as they arise.

Our costs are:-

1 hour intake with a parenting co-ordinator $550 incl GST
2 hours joint session with a parenting co-ordinator $1100 incl GST

Conflict Coaching

Conflict coaching is a confidential, one-on-one, method of conflict resolution.  It uses a structured model to step the client through a self-reflective process, with the aim of improving their understanding of how they react to conflict and their ability to manage it.

It is a powerful stand-alone tool that can also be used as an effective pre-cursor to mediation.  The coaching can focus on a particular dispute or situation, or on the specific behaviours that an individual may wish to change to improve their own conflict competence.  The team at Rafton Family Lawyers offers services in this area.  Contact us to enquire or book online now.