Mediators and family dispute resolution practitioners help people reach agreement without going to court.
firms
435
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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
Laidley, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mark Stone Solicitors provides legal services in Laidley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Criminal Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Firearms & Licensing Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roger O'Halloran & Company provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Strata and Construction Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Strata & Body Corporate, Building & Construction and Residential Tenancy.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sutton Family Law provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tiernan Lawyers provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, De Facto Relationships and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreDe Facto Relationships · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Deakin, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Campbell & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Deakin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Petrie, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Petrie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Batemans Bay, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mannion Lawyers provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+5 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mannion Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+5 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stone Group Lawyers Gold Coast provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brooke Winter Solicitors provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Morayfield, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Future Family Law provides legal services in Morayfield, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Scarness, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Justice Law & Mediation, Hervey Bay provides legal services in Scarness, QLD. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Mediation & Dispute Resolution+3 moreFamily Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle West, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Newcastle West, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Terrigal, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Terrigal, NSW. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Empower Will Contest Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Probate & Estate Administration and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Garrison Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kellyville, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Helliars Solicitors provides legal services in Kellyville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial LawFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mark Stone Solicitors provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Criminal Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Traffic Offences
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.
