Schedule of Costs for Family Dispute Resolution
Mediation is a cost-effective alternative to going to the Family Court, where each party will typically spend between $30,000 and $60,000 in court fees, legal representation and other trial costs.
We provide a free 15-minute consultation, if required, prior to intakes being conducted.
Intake is $227.27 + GST per party.
All invitations (via phone, SMS text message and email) are FREE (we do not charge extra).
The expediting of urgent matters (scheduling within 2 business days) is FREE (we do not charge extra).
Document review (court orders, Domestic Violence Orders or similar, and other relevant documents) as part of the intake process is FREE (we do not charge extra).
The drafting of agreements reached as part of the mediation process is included in the cost of the mediation (we do not charge extra).
Room hire (if any) and travel time (if any) are FREE (we do not charge extra).
The fixed fee of mediation can be divided between the parties or covered by an individual party, depending on arrangements between the parties.
The fixed fee of half-day mediation (3hr) per party relating to children's matters only (whether via face-to-face or shuttle or video-conference or phone conference):
The fixed fee of half-day mediation (3hr) per party relating to property/financial matters only (whether via face-to-face or shuttle or video-conference or phone conference):
The fixed fee of full-day mediation (6hr) per party relating to both children's matters and property/financial matters (whether via face-to-face or shuttle or video-conference or phone conference):
Should one party wish to mediate about children and property/finances but the other party wishes to mediate about children only, then we can proceed to mediation about children only. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that mediation about children and property/finances will proceed, even if the initiating party has sought to engage Family Mediation Direct specifically for mediation about children and property/finances.
For full-day child-inclusive mediation (6hr), each parent will have a Parent Session with the child consultant, and if deemed appropriate each child will spend up to one hour with the child consultant, and the child consultant will provide oral feedback during the mediation. The costs of the child consultant are payable directly to the child consultant (with a total cost being $700 + GST for one child, and an additional $150 + GST per child thereafter, so that the total cost for two children is $850 + GST). The mediation is scheduled for six hours and face-to-face only (cannot be conducted via shuttle or video-conference or phone conference). Therefore, the fixed fee of child-inclusive mediation per party (excluding the child consultant's costs):
Any agreements reached during the mediation are provided to the parties in the format as agreed by the parties during the mediation.
Additional Mediation Time is $454.55 + GST per hour or part thereof per party (total: $909.10 + GST per hour or part thereof). Such additional time must occur as a continuation of the same mediation (and not on a separate day).
Amendments to the Mediation Agreement is $300 + GST per party per set of requested amendments (total: $600 + GST per set of requested amendments).
The issuance of the Certificate to each party is a mandatory part of the mediation process, at $300 + GST per certificate.
The issuance of the Property Schedule to each party is a mandatory part of the mediation process, at $300 + GST per party.
PLEASE NOTE: If the mediation is booked but cancelled before 9.30am AEST two (2) business days preceding the day of the mediation, then a cancellation fee of $750.75 (including GST) applies (representing the allocation of the mediator's time for mediation and the unlikelihood that at such short notice another matter will be booked at that same time). If the mediation is booked but cancelled after 9.30am AEST two (2) business days preceding the day of the mediation (or if a party fails to attend for any reason including technology failure or poor mobile reception), then no refund applies as to all mediation fees (representing time spent preparing for the Mediation, costs incurred by Family Mediation Direct, the allocation of the mediator's time for mediation, and the unlikelihood that at such short notice another matter will be booked at that same time). If the Mediation is scheduled in a particular format but proceeds in a different format for any reason (including but not limited to a failure of technology), then no refund applies as to the difference between the cost of the Mediation in the format scheduled and the cost of the Mediation in the format delivered. For example: if the Mediation is scheduled to occur via videoconferencing but proceeds via phone because of a failure of technology, then no refund applies as to the difference between the cost of Mediation via videoconferencing and Mediation via phone; or if the Mediation is scheduled to occur in person but proceeds via phone because of a failure of one Party or both Parties to attend in person, then no refund applies as to the difference between the cost of Mediation in person and Mediation via phone. If an intake is booked but cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled commencement of the intake (or if a party fails to attend their intake at the scheduled time for any reason including technology failure or poor mobile reception), then no refund applies as to that intake's fees, because professional time is allocated to the set appointments, for which Family Mediation Direct incurs costs. Intakes are rescheduled once only.
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below:
We provide a free 15-minute consultation, if required, prior to intakes being conducted.
Intake is $227.27 + GST per party.
All invitations (via phone, SMS text message and email) are FREE (we do not charge extra).
The expediting of urgent matters (scheduling within 2 business days) is FREE (we do not charge extra).
Document review (court orders, Domestic Violence Orders or similar, and other relevant documents) as part of the intake process is FREE (we do not charge extra).
The drafting of agreements reached as part of the mediation process is included in the cost of the mediation (we do not charge extra).
Room hire (if any) and travel time (if any) are FREE (we do not charge extra).
The fixed fee of mediation can be divided between the parties or covered by an individual party, depending on arrangements between the parties.
The fixed fee of half-day mediation (3hr) per party relating to children's matters only (whether via face-to-face or shuttle or video-conference or phone conference):
- $1063.64 (mediation) + $300 (certificate) = $1363.64 + GST
The fixed fee of half-day mediation (3hr) per party relating to property/financial matters only (whether via face-to-face or shuttle or video-conference or phone conference):
- $1063.64 (mediation) + $300 (property schedule) = $1363.64 + GST
The fixed fee of full-day mediation (6hr) per party relating to both children's matters and property/financial matters (whether via face-to-face or shuttle or video-conference or phone conference):
- $1363.64 (mediation) + $300 (certificate) + $300 (property schedule) = $1963.64 + GST
Should one party wish to mediate about children and property/finances but the other party wishes to mediate about children only, then we can proceed to mediation about children only. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that mediation about children and property/finances will proceed, even if the initiating party has sought to engage Family Mediation Direct specifically for mediation about children and property/finances.
For full-day child-inclusive mediation (6hr), each parent will have a Parent Session with the child consultant, and if deemed appropriate each child will spend up to one hour with the child consultant, and the child consultant will provide oral feedback during the mediation. The costs of the child consultant are payable directly to the child consultant (with a total cost being $700 + GST for one child, and an additional $150 + GST per child thereafter, so that the total cost for two children is $850 + GST). The mediation is scheduled for six hours and face-to-face only (cannot be conducted via shuttle or video-conference or phone conference). Therefore, the fixed fee of child-inclusive mediation per party (excluding the child consultant's costs):
- $1663.64 (mediation) + $300 (certificate) = $1963.64 + GST
Any agreements reached during the mediation are provided to the parties in the format as agreed by the parties during the mediation.
Additional Mediation Time is $454.55 + GST per hour or part thereof per party (total: $909.10 + GST per hour or part thereof). Such additional time must occur as a continuation of the same mediation (and not on a separate day).
Amendments to the Mediation Agreement is $300 + GST per party per set of requested amendments (total: $600 + GST per set of requested amendments).
The issuance of the Certificate to each party is a mandatory part of the mediation process, at $300 + GST per certificate.
The issuance of the Property Schedule to each party is a mandatory part of the mediation process, at $300 + GST per party.
PLEASE NOTE: If the mediation is booked but cancelled before 9.30am AEST two (2) business days preceding the day of the mediation, then a cancellation fee of $750.75 (including GST) applies (representing the allocation of the mediator's time for mediation and the unlikelihood that at such short notice another matter will be booked at that same time). If the mediation is booked but cancelled after 9.30am AEST two (2) business days preceding the day of the mediation (or if a party fails to attend for any reason including technology failure or poor mobile reception), then no refund applies as to all mediation fees (representing time spent preparing for the Mediation, costs incurred by Family Mediation Direct, the allocation of the mediator's time for mediation, and the unlikelihood that at such short notice another matter will be booked at that same time). If the Mediation is scheduled in a particular format but proceeds in a different format for any reason (including but not limited to a failure of technology), then no refund applies as to the difference between the cost of the Mediation in the format scheduled and the cost of the Mediation in the format delivered. For example: if the Mediation is scheduled to occur via videoconferencing but proceeds via phone because of a failure of technology, then no refund applies as to the difference between the cost of Mediation via videoconferencing and Mediation via phone; or if the Mediation is scheduled to occur in person but proceeds via phone because of a failure of one Party or both Parties to attend in person, then no refund applies as to the difference between the cost of Mediation in person and Mediation via phone. If an intake is booked but cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled commencement of the intake (or if a party fails to attend their intake at the scheduled time for any reason including technology failure or poor mobile reception), then no refund applies as to that intake's fees, because professional time is allocated to the set appointments, for which Family Mediation Direct incurs costs. Intakes are rescheduled once only.
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below: