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
Burnie, TAS · North West & West Coast
CatholicCare Tasmania provides legal services in Burnie, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
CatholicCare Tasmania provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Clayton James provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Commercial Bank Chambers provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bowen Hills, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Corney & Lind Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Bowen Hills, QLD. Listed practice areas include Not-for-Profit & Charity Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Curwen-Walker Conveyancing & Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Brunswick, VIC · Northern Melbourne
De Marchi & Associates provides legal services in Brunswick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Milton, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Divorce Hub Brisbane provides legal services in Milton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Esperance, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
Esperance Lawyers provides legal services in Esperance, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Family Law Assist provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Binding Financial Agreements.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Freeman Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
GWK Allars provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Harris & Harris provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Hercules Constan provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brookvale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Jacqueline Townsend Solicitor provides legal services in Brookvale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Bowen, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Kahler Lawyers provides legal services in Bowen, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Klein Legal provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Building & Construction.
Wantirna South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Knox Family Law Specialist provides legal services in Wantirna South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Kovacevic Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
L D Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Lancaster Graham provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Insolvency & Restructuring.
NSW · Perth CBD
Logie Legal provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Native Title & Aboriginal Legal Services and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Lovegrove & Cotton Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Milton, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Macpherson Family Law provides legal services in Milton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
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.
