Family Law | Mediation & Conciliation

Family Parenting and Financial Mediation & Conciliation

Multiple Office Locations

Sydney, NSW, ACT & WA

Multilingual Lawyers

24/7 access

50+ years of collective experience

Multiple Office Locations

Sydney, NSW, ACT & WA

Multilingual Lawyers

24/7 access

50+ years of collective experience

Mediation is a type of resolution process which uses a a mediator to help you reach a mutual agreement in your financial or parenting family law disputes. These types of mediators are known as Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) Practitioners. Unless exceptional circumstances apply, family dispute resolution is a necessary step before the commencement of Court proceedings. Mediation can also occur after Court proceedings have started.

To find out whether family dispute resolution or mediation is right for you, contact one of our family law experts for an initial free discussion.

What Is Mediation for Family Parenting?

Mediation for family parenting disputes, also known as family mediation, is designed to assist separated or divorced parents in making decisions about the care and upbringing of their children. It aims to help parents resolve disputes as smoothly as possible while avoiding Court intervention, to create workable parenting environments and child-focussed outcomes.

During mediation, everything you say is confidential and cannot be used as evidence in Court. However, some limited exceptions apply, for example if the child is at risk of abuse or if there is a health threat to one of the individuals involved.

Benefits of family parenting mediation are:

Neutral facilitation. A trained mediator remains impartial while discussing the needs and upbringing of the children;
Focus on children’s interests. The primary focus is always on the best interests of the children. Mediators engaged by Lionheart Lawyers are experienced in handling the most difficult of circumstances and capable of assisting parties resolve the most complicated parenting disputes;
Legally binding agreements. Once both parents reach an agreement, it will be formalised by Lionheart Lawyers into a legally binding document known as consent orders, which can be submitted to the Court for approval.

Once you and your ex-partner come to an agreement, we will assist you in preparing and finalising the terms of the financial agreement or consent orders. If an agreement is not reached, then the next step in most situations is to file a Section 60I Certificate. This is a document required to commence Court proceedings in parenting disputes, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Experienced Accredited Mediators

At Lionheart Lawyers, we work with highly qualified and experienced Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) Practitioners. The choice of mediator is important and we will always consider your circumstances and desired outcomes when putting forward our mediation recommendations. We work with mediators accredited with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) and other recognisable bodies such as the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators.

When preparing for your mediation, we listen carefully to your concerns, take detailed instructions as to your desired outcomes, and carefully examine the material relevant to your dispute. This includes a complete and thorough understanding of the assets, liabilities and financial resources of the parties, your future needs, the needs of your children, and any risks to you or the children.With this information, we will put together a mediation brief to present to the mediator to ensure that you have the best possible chance of achieving your desired outcome. We will also ensure you are shielded from any potential inequality in bargaining power. Throughout the mediation process, we will assist the mediator with facilitating a resolution of the dispute by:

Focussing on the main issues;
Workshopping practical solutions that work for the parties;
Making appropriate legal submissions.

Family Dispute Conciliation Services

In most instances, following the commence of proceedings, the Court will direct that the parties participate in a Conciliation Conference. A Conciliation Conference provides an opportunity for parties to work with a Judicial Registrar to make a genuine effort to settle your dispute.

At Lionheart Lawyers, our expert family lawyers will assist you in preparing for your Conciliation Conference. This may include:

Appointing independent expert valuers (such as property and accounting experts) to undertake valuations of property, businesses and other financial interests in trusts, companies or superannuation;
Requesting and examining all of the financial disclosure material (including taxation returns, bank statements, pay slips, financial statements and loan documents) provided by your ex-partner;
Issuing the necessary subpoenas to third parties to discover material not made available as part of the financial disclosure process; and,
Taking your detailed instructions as to all matters relevant to your past and future finances and the children (if applicable).

With this information, we will prepare a Conciliation Conference Document which details your proposed desired outcomes.

During the Conciliation Conference, we will put your best case forward to the Judicial Registrar and your ex-partner and will negotiate with your instructions to achieve your desired outcome. Once a resolution is achieved, we will prepare and finalise the necessary paperwork to bring the dispute to an end.

Mediating Family Parenting & Financial Disputes

While family parenting and financial disputes are never easy, engaging the help of a mediator or conciliator can result in an agreement suitable for all parties, including any children.

Benefits of informal resolution of disputes include:

Quick. A meditated outcome often results in an early resolution of disputes;
Cheaper. If a dispute can be resolved through mediation, the costs of preparing and running a trial can be avoided;

Certainty. You control the outcome of the dispute and may customise it to your needs;

Less stress. Mediation is less formal and less intimidating than appearing in Court;
Confidentiality. Mediation is private;
Finality. Settlement agreements can usually only be modified with the agreement of all parties.

If you are going through any family parenting or financial disputes, contact our excellent family lawyers today on (02) 9299 0112. We offer free initial consultation services and can answer any questions.

Seeking Expert Legal Advice in Family Law?

Contact us for a free consultation.

We’ll Fight for You

Lionheart Lawyers are leaders in providing clear and concise legal advice and solutions. We take the time to understand your circumstances and offer tailored and customised advice and services to achieve your optimal outcome.

Our premium legal services are delivered by a team of highly qualified and personable professionals with more than 50 years of collective experience.

Seeking Expert Legal Advice in Family Law?

Contact us for a free consultation.

Trusted Family Law Experts

[Charbel] is highly knowledgeable, professional and very client service focused and made the entire process go smoothly and kept me informed every step of the way. Charbel, thank you for your excellent service and guidance and for giving me a sense of peace throughout the most stressful part of my life. I am forever grateful!!

One of the best law firms in Australia, Lionheart Lawyers 👍 continually provides clients with excellent services. Wonderful team of professionals to deal with from office support to solicitors. Always has a quick response time, and good advice. Incredibly impressed and will be sure to use again in the future. Majed and Julina Thank you so much for your amazing help!

I had a very good experience with Lionheart Lawyers. They pursued my motor vehicle accident case. Majed and Julina really assisted me throughout my case; they constantly made me feel comfortable and were always going above and beyond to help in any way while achieving the best outcome. Both him and Julina, along with the team at Lionheart, were constantly professional, kind and supportive throughout the whole process. I 100% recommend.

Lionheart are the best legal team you can have on your side. They have been our legal firm for over 7 years. The team are very good at what they do, we trust them with all legal issues big or small and for all legal advice which is always motivated by our best interest.There isn't another legal firm that will work for you as hard and with your best interest at heart as these guys. Thanks to Charbel and Nazih and team!

Lionheart Lawyers were excellent. From the very start I knew I was finally working with the best. Charbel Azzi and his team including Judiel Garcia were on top of every matter and providing the best advice. My case was a very complex case and the team used both great legal knowledge and expertise but also were able to 'think outside of the square'. I will be recommending them to friends and family. I felt totally supported throughout the legal process.

In a time of my life where it was the most challenging, stressful moments I would always feel better after speaking to Nazih, Judiel and Christie who always had patience with me and they would always explain and updated me on how my case was going. I am so thankful and appreciate everything the team has done for myself and my children. They are more than a business they have a genuine care where they will do their best and have the most upmost morals and fairness.

Thank you Charbel for navigating our highly complex and multifaceted matter from beginning to end, with skill, professionalism and empathy. Your personal attention to the details and nuance and your guidance throughout made an invaluable difference. A huge commendation to Bonnie as well for her diligence and hard work.

Lionheart lawyers exceptional handling of my case resulted in a victorious outcome Charbel and Judiel's expertise, dedication and strategic approach exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended for legal representation. Highly recommended.

I am extremely pleased with the service from Lionheart Lawyers, from the first time I met the team in the office to the way I was treated was truly professional. The team responded to my every query promptly and worked very hard to achieve the best outcome and leave no stone unturned in there pursuit for justice and the rights of the client. The team make you feel so comfortable at every stage and explain things very well so you understand your case and you can make the best decisions moving forward.

This group, especially the principal are very good. One of the best I have ever met. Charbel and his team did a very good job for me. I just relaxed as I knew my case was in safe hands. He is a thorough lawyer and will leave no stones unturned. The opponents shiver when he is on. Highly recommended. Nominal fee. Very satisfied client.

From start to finish Majed Issa & his team were excellent & highly professional. Majed gave sound, honest and open advice which left me feeling extremely comfortable & I always new where my case was at. Majed’s communication was amazing & he always responded in a timely manner & quite often he contacted me after business hours to make sure I received any updates or a response to my questions. I truly felt a genuine care & understanding which goes along way!

Charbel Azzi and his colleagues left no stone unturned in ensuring the best result for my situation. Thank you for all your help and I have no hesitation in recommending your practice.

Excellent service and extremely professional, I can't thank the team at Lionheart Lawyers for all their professional support and assistance in delivering exceptional client service. Highly recommend!

Charbel Azzi

Legal Practitioner Director

Nazih Touma

Legal Practitioner Director

Majed Issa

Accredited Specialist Director

Family Parenting and Financial Mediation & Conciliation

What Is Mediation for Family Parenting?

Experienced Accredited Mediators

Family Dispute Conciliation Services

Mediating Family Parenting & Financial Disputes

Seeking Expert Legal Advice in Family Law?

Contact us for a free consultation.

We’ll Fight for You

Seeking Expert Legal Advice in Family Law?

Contact us for a free consultation.

General Enquiries

Trusted Family Law Experts

Our Partners

Charbel Azzi

Nazih Touma

Majed Issa

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