Who has to Attend Mediation?
Mediation in family law is an alternative to having a court decide the outcome in your matter. A mediator’s role in Family Law matters is to assist a separated couple to sort through the issues and try and help them come to an agreement themselves regarding either property settlement or parenting arrangements (or both). So, who should go?
To find out more about mediation in Brisbane and how to prepare, read our article “What you need to know about Mediation”. We often see clients confused about when, or if, they should attend mediation. Mediation is not compulsory, unless a parent is seeking to obtain a Parenting Order from the court, in which case they must attend mediation and obtain a Section 60I Certificate (to find our more, read our article “What is a Section 60I Certificate“). It is important to keep in mind when booking a mediation that not all mediators can provide these certificates, only Accredited FDR practitioners registered with the Federal Attorney-General can issue a 60I Certificate.
Helpful tips
Although mediation is not compulsory prior to filing an application in court seeking property settlement orders, it is preferable if parties to a property settlement dispute also attend mediation, to try and resolve the matter prior to a final hearing in court. The practice of the Federal Circuit Court in Brisbane is that in financial matters where parties have appropriate financial resources, they will be referred to private mediation. Where parties cannot afford the costs of private mediation, the court will likely order the parties to attend a conciliation conference convened by a registrar of the court.
Mediation is a helpful process, if you have received appropriate legal advice beforehand and are well-prepared. If you have not, the mediation could have a profoundly negative effect on the resolution of issues. It is important to obtain independent legal advice from an experienced family law solicitor prior to attending any mediation in relation to family law matters.
If you are going through a separation or need assistance with mediation, it is important to get legal advice early. Contact our office today on (07) 3221 4300 for a fixed-fee no obligation initial consultation.
