Family & Relationships · Southern Sydney
6 mediation & dispute resolution firms in Southern Sydney, New South Wales, including Hurstville, Sutherland, Cronulla, Bankstown.
6 firms
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Mediation is confidential and usually far cheaper and faster than litigation. In parenting disputes, family dispute resolution is generally required before court, and an accredited practitioner issues a certificate when it doesn't resolve the matter. Lawyers can attend with you or advise you before and after sessions.
Mediation resolves disputes faster and more cheaply than court, and keeps decisions in the parties' hands rather than a judge's.
Family dispute resolution is generally compulsory before parenting proceedings under section 60I of the Family Law Act. Practitioners must be accredited by the Attorney-General's Department. Many courts also order mediation in civil disputes.
Understand the next step
Clarify whether you want advice before mediation, a lawyer to attend, or help recording an agreement afterwards. A mediator’s role and your own legal adviser’s role are different.
Ask what can be settled in the session and what further documentation is needed to give the outcome its intended effect.
Southern Sydney includes several distinct local centres. A residential conveyance, small-business lease and family property settlement can each need different expertise even when all involve the same home or premises.
For mediation & dispute resolution, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NSW experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Southern Sydney. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
In New South Wales, most criminal and minor civil matters start in the Local Court, with more serious matters in the District Court and Supreme Court. Tenancy, strata, consumer and guardianship disputes usually go to NCAT. Solicitors are licensed by the Law Society of New South Wales, and complaints about lawyers go to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.
Good to know
Generally yes, with exceptions such as threats to safety and child abuse.
A certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner, usually needed before filing a parenting application in court.
Most matters start in the Local Court. More serious cases go to the District Court or the Supreme Court of NSW. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Revesby, NSW · Southern Sydney
Batey's Family Lawyers provides legal services in Revesby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
Shire Legal provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Michael Birch provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Building & Construction and Wills & Estates.
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
Tiernan Lawyers provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, De Facto Relationships and Planning & Environment.
Mortdale, NSW · Southern Sydney
Alex Ilkin & Co provides legal services in Mortdale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Strata & Body Corporate, Building & Construction and Property & Conveyancing.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Practising certificates in New South Wales are managed by the Law Society of New South Wales. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.