How Much Does it Cost

If you’re unsure about the process, you can receive a FREE 15-minute callback from Geoff to discuss your matter.

Visit Free Consultation to schedule your session.

The Costs of the Family Court System

A recent survey revealed that the Family Court System can take at least 6-12 months to resolve, with more complex cases taking even longer and incurring higher costs. This extended timeline can put your life on hold, causing significant stress and financial burden.

Mediation Wait Times

Government-funded mediation services often have a 3-6 month waitlist due to high demand. At Relationship Mediation, our waitlist is shorter, allowing you to move forward more quickly when both parties are committed to the process and there are no risk factors. We can typically book your appointment within 7-14 days, with the possibility of scheduling a consultation within 24-48 hours to discuss your matter.

Benefits of Mediation

Mediation is mandatory in the Family Court, but it can save you considerable time, money, and heartache by resolving differences out of court. Successful mediation requires both parties to be fully committed to the process.

Before the mediation, the mediator will communicate with each party to understand the issues and positions through written submissions, telephone, and email. This preparation is included in the Intake Assessment and Pre-Mediation Intake Session costs. The total mediator time involved prior to mediation is generally in the three-to-four-hour range, longer for complex matters.

Fees

Our fees are packaged according to the type of work and urgency required. From the initial consultation, mediation can be scheduled within 7-14 days, depending on availability and appropriateness. If there are no risk or safety factors, Geoff can typically schedule mediation appointments within 24-48 hours. Pre-Mediation appointments can be arranged within a further 7-14 days based on availability, ensuring a shorter wait time for you to attend mediation.

We offer a payment plan for all clients, which is cost-effective for couples committed to mediation.

Simple and Complex Mediation

Relationship Mediation specializes in Family Divorce and Separation Mediation services. Our offices in Mornington Peninsula handle both simple and complex/high-conflict matters, allowing you to begin the mediation process confidently and easily. With the reduction of COVID quarantine measures, we can travel to you, though travel charges apply based on location.

High Conflict Mediation

Safety for both parties is paramount. We offer teleconferencing, video calls, Zoom sessions, and shuttle mediation to reduce stress, ensuring you don't have to be in the same room as the other party. Upon reaching an agreement, the written agreement will be emailed to each party and their lawyers within 24-48 hours.

Contact Us

For more details and to book your session, please contact Geoff. We are here to help you navigate the mediation process with ease and efficiency.

Additional Work and Charges

Any additional work the Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) performs outside the standard Parenting or Property Mediation process will incur additional hourly charges. Geoff operates on a “no surprises” basis, ensuring all parties are fully aware of the agreed charges to avoid unexpected bills.

Mediation Investment

Investing in mediation is a cost-effective alternative to the extensive legal fees typically charged in the Family Law System, especially during separation or divorce. Our mediation approach focuses on reaching a mutual agreement between parties, helping them move forward with a solution they can live with when committed to the process.

There are NO surprises and NO hidden fees.

What Our Fees Include

1. Intake Assessment

  • Individual assessment for both parties.

2. Pre-Mediation

  • Individual assessment sessions for both parties.

3. Mediation Session

  • Joint session for both parties (or shuttle mediation if required).

4. Agreement Preparation

  • Drafting documents of agreement (up to 3 hours of drafting).
  • Correspondence (up to 2 hours).

5. Communication

  • Up to 6 telephone calls between parties.
  • Up to 6 emails between parties.

6. Certificates of Mediation

  • Issued within 7 business days or expedited within 3-5 business days upon written request to geoff@relationshipmediation.com.au.

Certificate Request Process

To request a Certificate of Mediation, please send a written request to geoff@relationshipmediation.com.au. We will send you an online form, and your certificate will be issued within 3-7 business days, depending on the payment method. We can also send this directly to your solicitor if needed.

Available Packages

We offer packages for both face-to-face and teleconferencing sessions with clients across Australia. For details, please contact Geoff for a callback.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations will incur an administration fee, deducted from the cancelling party’s refund. For more details, please ask for our Cancellation Policy.