Family & Relationships
Mediators and family dispute resolution practitioners help people reach agreement without going to court.
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.
Mediation & Dispute Resolution firms in the directory
435 firms
Weston Creek, ACT · Canberra
C Power Lawyers provides legal services in Weston Creek, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Construction Expert Witness Australia provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
D.A.Swan & Co provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Notary Public & JP Services.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Daykin Family Law provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Emerge Legal provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
GLU Legal provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP, Personal Injury and Public Liability.
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Gullickson Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Forster, NSW · Mid North Coast
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Forster, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
JB Solicitors provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Employment Law and Divorce & Separation.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Kelly & McHale Family Lawyers provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Kozarov Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Singleton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Neilson & Co Legal provides legal services in Singleton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Neilson Law provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Neilson Law provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Olivia Wilson Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Pigdon Norgate Family Lawyers Albury provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and De Facto Relationships.
Nuriootpa, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Shorter Legal provides legal services in Nuriootpa, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Helensvale, QLD · Gold Coast
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Helensvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Starlight Legal (Chatswood) provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Immigration & Visas and Criminal Law.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Staunton & Thompson Lawyers provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Subiaco, WA · Perth CBD
Strata Mediation Services provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Strata & Body Corporate and Property & Conveyancing.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Taegan Irving Lawyer provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
