Mediation Costs
Court is expensive. It costs between $8,000 and $10,000 just up to and including your first court date and court costs can end up escalating above $100,000 by the time your matter reaches a trial.
No one ever ‘wins’ in the family court system. There are however many losers, due to the financial and emotional costs associated with going to court. Further, what you believe you believe is fair and what a court will order are not always one and the same. The outcome is handed to you by a third party and often parties walk away with an outcome that neither of them are happy with.
A successful mediation will result in an agreement that everyone can live with and an outcome that you have control over.
By choosing Mediation over court you have so much to gain and nothing to lose.
We offer fixed fees for all Barton Family Mediation Services.
Courtney’s costs are based on the fixed fees set out in the following Fixed Fee Table.
What is the process for mediation in parenting disputes?
Parenting disputes are often the most emotively charged and involve difficult issues, but they are the area which is most important to address as quickly as possible after separation. When children are involved in parental conflict, this can have significant negative impacts on your children, physically and psychologically. The quicker you resolve matters relating to your children’s living arrangements and work towards a cooperative post separation parenting relationship with your former partner, the better for all involved, particularly the children.
In children’s matters there is a procedure we are required to follow with respect to mediation, as set out in the Family Law Act and Regulations, the National Mediation Standards and the Queensland Law Society Rules.
This process must be complied with in all mediations we conduct.
The process is as follows:
- An intake appointment is done with the inviting party;
- If Mediation is assessed as appropriate, an invitation is sent to the other party to attend mediation in writing (by post/email) and by telephone;
- The invitation is followed up by a telephone call within the next few days;
- If the invitation to attend mediation is refused, a section 60I certificate may be issued where appropriate as guided by the Family Law Act and Regulations;
- If the invitation is accepted a mediation is arranged. Mediation can be arranged by the parties or their lawyers at a neutral venue such as the Queensland Law Society or North Brisbane Mediation Rooms at the cost of the parties.