Family mediation lawyers Perth – helping you reach your own agreement. 

Mediation
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Experienced & accredited mediation services

Providing mediation services for both property and parenting matters, we will help you get the best outcome in your circumstances.

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Family Law Practitioners Association WA
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Family law mediation

You make your own decisions

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Family law mediation (a form of ADR) is the process through which a separated couple, with the assistance of an independent and impartial mediator, work together to resolve their parenting and/or property matters with the aim of reaching their own agreement. 

The mediator will help you both identify possible solutions and to reach agreement. You do not need to be in the same room to do this. Some parties prefer to be in different rooms or to attend by phone. Mediation is about everyone feeling safe enough to express themselves and feel heard, allowing long-lasting agreements to be made. It is confidential and voluntary so both parties must agree to participate. 

Where appropriate, mediation can be a great option for your family law matter. It is a family-focused, collaborative approach to resolving issues that emphasizes solutions and problem-solving over conflict. The mediator will help you find your own solutions so that you do not need a court to make decisions for you. 

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Collaborative family law

Experienced mediators & family lawyers

If you want to apply for a parenting order, you will have to comply with “pre-action procedure”. This includes trying to negotiate the terms of a parenting agreement. This process is known as “compulsory family dispute resolution”. You can choose the type of dispute resolution that best suits your situation. For instance, family counselling, negotiation or conciliation.

In our capacity as mediators, we can assist you prepare a Parenting Plan but not parenting orders. That is because in a family law matter, we effectively wear only one of two hats – either that of a mediator or as family lawyer but we cannot be both. Our experience in both areas however, compliment each other.

When acting as a mediator, we act impartially and assist the parties to reach their own agreement by facilitating negotiations. If you agree on the terms of a Parenting Plan you can then take this Plan to a solicitor to be formalised into a consent order or you can do this yourself.

Why

Perth Divorce Lawyers & Mediators

Mediation intake session

Contact us to arrange a fixed fee intake session. Intake sessions are required to determine whether your matter is appropriate for mediation.

Invitation to the other party

If appropriate, we will invite your former partner to attend an intake session themselves. Usually, each party pays for their own intake session.

Joint session

If mediation is appropriate, we can then arrange a joint session so that you can communicate with each other, discuss your differences and find a solution.

Your matter is handled by experienced mediators

You can rely on our experience. The same mediator (or co-mediators) will work on your matter from start to finish.

We listen

We give your matter the attention it deserves. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the highest standard of mediation services.

Exceptional client care

We understand that each family is different. We take the time to get to know your situation. We are transparent approachable and here to help – structuring our mediation services to best suit your needs.

Mediation process

We foster communication over conflict

The mediation process is based on compromise. Although it is possible that neither side gets everything they want, both sides walk away feeling that they were heard.

As your mediators, we share a common goal in finding a resolution to your matter to the benefit of all involved. 

Family law mediation can be a valuable first step to resolve a range of disputes including property settlements, parenting, child support and spousal maintenance.   

Intake & invitation

We will conduct mediation intake sessions with both parties individually. If mediation is appropriate, we can then arrange a ‘joint’ session so you can discuss your concerns and find a solution.  

Joint session

The mediator maintains a safe environment so that both parties can express themselves and feel heard. The mediator may suggest mutually beneficial solutions and encourage compromise where necessary.

Our goal

The main goal of family law mediation is to help parties find common ground and negotiate long-lasting resolutions to their differences.

Agreement

If parties are unable to reach an agreement through mediation, they may have to apply to the Family Court for the appropriate orders to be made.

Mediation tips & advice

Simplifying your mediation

01
Choosing mediation

Mediation is voluntary. There are different mediation models available to you, including with or without lawyers present.

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Preparing for mediation

For property settlements, you will need to attend to disclosure and valuation matters. For parenting settlements, read about age-appropriate parenting arrangements.

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Take independant legal advice

It is important to take independent legal advice on your rights, entitlements and obligations prior to attending mediation.

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What will your settlement look like?

Consider making enquiries on your options to settle your matter prior to attending mediation. Depending on the matter, you may need advice from other professionals like your accountant or family therapist.

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Testimonials

Satisfied clients

Read all testimonials

Client

Ballajura, WA
Annelie Van Zyl provided me with excellent legal service. Going through a divorce including property settlement, I didn’t know what to expect. Aside from her obvious skill and remarkable success rate, Mrs. Van Zyl is genuinely committed to her clients. …

Client

Hocking, WA
I approached Perth Divorce Lawyers as I was referred by a good friend and colleague and needed specialised assistance with my Family Court matter. Perth Divorce Lawyers helped me though the complex process of my matters. As there were a number of issues there was a lot of preparation before the hear…

Client

Perth, WA
I approached Perth Divorce Lawyers because I required assistance with my Family Court proceedings mainly requiring legal assistance with parenting and financial matters including the preparation of my will and divorce matters.Perth Divorce Lawyers helped me by providing sound legal advice, complet…

Client

Aveley, WA
Under difficult and emotional circumstances I received expert guidance throughout the legal process. Yes, it is expensive that I can’t deny though in retrospect my final settlement and fees were better than forecast. The decision to choose Annelie and pursue a fair share of assets was without doubt …

FAQs

Simply put mediation is “assisted negotiations”.

Mediation offers an informal means of resolving disputes, without the need for preparation of expensive documents and without the need for attendance at court events. Mediations take place at a time and location to suit the parties and the mediator,  offers an opportunity for parties to tailor the process to suit their needs and circumstances, is private and usually costs much less for a family than litigation.
(https://www.aiflam.org.au/aiflam-members/mediation)

Mediation models may vary but usually you will attend joint sessions that provide an opportunity for the parties or their representatives to set out their interests / concerns to the other party or representative, you will have private sessions with the mediator to discuss possible agreements to meet each party’s particular interests / concerns, further joint sessions will allow the parties the opportunity to discuss their preferred outcomes, if applicable, agreements will be written up.  If no agreement, the mediator can assist to narrow the issues between the parties, thereby reducing court time and expense.

(https://www.aiflam.org.au/aiflam-members/mediation)

If  your asset pool is less than $750,000.00, our mediators charge a fixed fee of $2,199.00 (GST inclusive).  This includes all preparation and up to a full day mediation.  This does not include the cost of the venue for the mediation nor the cost of each party’s individual lawyer.

The cost of an intake session (up to 90 minutes) is $330 (incl. GST) per session.  Usually each party pays for their own intake session.   The joint session (up to 3 hours) is charged at $165 (incl. GST) per person per hour (total $990).

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