Mediators and family dispute resolution practitioners help people reach agreement without going to court.
firms
435
regions
16
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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.
Why mediation & dispute resolution matters
Mediation resolves disputes faster and more cheaply than court, and keeps decisions in the parties' hands rather than a judge's.
The Australian context
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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Milsons Point, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Milsons Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Skinner & Associates provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Corporate Law & M&A · Employment Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
My Community Legal Gold Coast provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nowra, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shoalhaven Family Law provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Griffiths Parry Lawyers & Notary provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Magpie Family Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mullins Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
The Law Collective provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Baily Family Law provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Surrogacy & Adoption
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Transitional Legal provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Surrogacy & Adoption · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Surrogacy & Adoption · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Family Law Group provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Mediation & Dispute Resolution2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.1(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Lakey Family Law and Mediation provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Melbourne Law Studio provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Compensation Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Personal Injury+7 moreMedical Negligence · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Property & Conveyancing · Professional Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial LawNo win, no fee
Understand the next step
A practical guide to mediation & dispute resolution
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
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.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of 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.
Dates to raise at first contact
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.
Questions to ask a mediation & dispute resolution adviser
What should I prepare before the session?
Who will advise me on any proposed settlement?
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
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
Frequently asked questions
Is what I say in mediation confidential?
Generally yes, with exceptions such as threats to safety and child abuse.
What is a section 60I certificate?
A certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner, usually needed before filing a parenting application in court.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
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.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
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.
