Mediation Wollongong
Don’t let disputes tear your family apart. Our Wollongong mediation offers a peaceful resolution process. Contact us for expert help with family law matters.
Specialist Mediation Services
Resolving Disputes with Melinda Griffiths Lawyers
In addition to our proficiency in compensation law, our Wollongong team uses the mediation process to resolve many legal matters. This dispute-resolution process is often much less stressful than attending court, making it an excellent alternative for issues that may not require traditional litigation methods. Mediation enables parties to reach an agreement privately rather than having their matter decided in a public courtroom.
Melinda Griffith’s experienced Mediators specialise in family law matters, workplace disputes, personal injury claims and commercial conflicts. Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process facilitated by trained professionals to achieve mutually acceptable agreements. It is often a much more efficient and economically viable avenue, eliminating the need for protracted court proceedings.
Our Woolongong Mediation Services
We offer mediation sessions across a broad range of legal matters, including:
Family Mediation & Family Law Dispute Resolution
Mediation is most commonly used in Australia for Family Dispute Resolution, usually around property settlement and parenting arrangements. Family mediation allows participants to avoid the court process after a relationship breakdown and negotiate their resolution in a neutral setting. It’s also an excellent option for resolving family disputes related to co-parenting without family court involvement.
Family mediation can also be helpful to preserve the family relationship and can be used to negotiate a whole range of matters between couples ending a relationship.
Couples can do a joint session in the same room or shuttle mediation, where parties are in separate rooms. This can be a good option if there is tension or conflict, as your Mediator can negotiate between you and the other person without any face-to-face contact required.
Some people prefer mediation to participate in mediation via video conference, which can provide space between both parties or allow separated couples in different locations to access mediation.
Family dispute resolution practitioners and relationship mediators can help you address many family law matters, including:
- Parenting plans & parenting orders (consent orders)
- Spousal maintenance & child support
- Grandparents rights
- Financial matters, such as property settlement
- Pre & post nuptial agreements
- Binding financial agreements
- Living arrangements after separation
Matters Involving Children
Children’s matters – whether related to the separation of families, family dispute resolution, youth justice issues, foster care, kinship or adoption, are often dealt with by Mediators in Australia, allowing children to avoid the stress of court or the legal system.
Justice Mediation
Some criminal matters can be resolved with mediation, which allows affected parties to negotiate an outcome. Justice mediation is not often advised for more serious crimes but can be a highly effective solution for matters where both parties are willing to agree.
Personal Injury, Insurance & Compensation Mediation
Not every compensation, personal injury or compensation matter must be decided in court. In many instances, a mediator can work with both parties to achieve a resolution using negotiation and allow both parties to reach an out-of-court settlement.
Dispute Resolution & Impartial Mediation
Melinda Griffiths Lawyers facilitates communication between parties, identifying interests and issues causing disputes. Working closely with both parties, we outline options and develop a mutually agreeable way forward, aiming for a resolution that satisfies all involved. You can avoid costly court fees and reach a peaceful solution by engaging Melinda Griffiths Lawyers to mediate your legal dispute.
Flexible And Collaborative Approach
Mediation is often a more flexible and collaborative way to resolve disputes than going to court. It is also a much more cost-effective alternative than going to court that can ensure everyone involved has their story heard. Melinda Griffiths Lawyers can mediate various legal disputes, including personal injury and commercial and family law matters.
Is Mediation A Suitable Option For My Legal Matter?
There are many circumstances in which mediation is a viable option for an efficient and cost-effective successful resolution of a legal matter or dispute. It is generally suitable for the issues in which both parties involved have a genuine effort to reach an outcome out of court.
Almost any legal issue can be mediated, apart from serious criminal matters or matters in which either party is unwilling or would not feel safe in a mediation environment, such as when family violence is a concern.
How Melinda Griffiths Lawyers Can Assist With Mediation
Engage Melinda Griffiths Lawyers for mediation services in your legal dispute to ensure a fair and agreeable resolution, avoiding costly court fees. We take pride in offering impartial mediation services that foster mutually acceptable agreements, emphasising our commitment to an efficient and equitable resolution process.
Mediation is often a more flexible and cost-effective way to resolve disputes compared to court proceedings. Melinda Griffiths Lawyers offers mediation services across various legal matters, including personal injury, commercial, and family law disputes.
At Melinda Griffiths Lawyers, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality legal services and achieving the best possible outcome for our clients. Contact us today to book a mediation session at our Wollongong offices or learn more about our services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Legal Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process facilitated by trained mediators guiding parties to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. This collaborative approach is far more flexible than traditional legal proceedings and often leads to quicker dispute resolution, with much lower legal fees incurred.
Mediation services are often chosen to avoid the pressures of the court process and can be an excellent way to address matters at a time convenient to both parties. Fees are generally set by the hour or at a fixed daily rate, which ensures clarity regarding costs. Working with an experienced mediator allows both parties to discuss the matter in a non-adversarial manner in the privacy of the mediation space.
Is Mediation A Suitable Option For My Matter?
In Australia, almost any legal issue can be resolved by mediation, apart from some serious crimes, where there is a requirement for the court process or parties involved pose a safety risk. If both parties agree to attend mediation and are genuinely willing to reach an agreement, it can be a great way to find a middle ground and move forward.
Matters that are commonly negotiated via mediation include:
- Family relationship matters
- Parenting matters
- Property settlement after divorce or separation
- Family matters involving children
- Youth justice issues
- Personal injury matters
- Intellectual property issues
- Commercial and consumer matters
Mediation is generally not a suitable option for domestic violence issues, violent crimes or matters where the other party does not wish to reach an agreement out of court.
What Should I Consider Before Starting Mediation?
Before initiating a mediation process, it’s essential to ensure the other party is open to resolving the matter in this way. Generally, Mediators will send the other party an invitation with details about what issues must be resolved. If you and your ex-partner want to discuss a parenting issue or future arrangements for your children, having a clear picture of your desired outcome and any areas in which you may be open to compromise is a good idea.
Your Mediator will ensure you have sufficient information to be prepared on the day and offer available dates that will best suit you and the other parties’ needs. Both parties will also be able to have support persons present, which can lessen some of the emotional toll related to conflict resolution.
Mediation between parents may involve children being present in some matters, depending on their age and their parent’s wishes.
What is the difference between a Lawyer, a Mediator and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner?
A Mediator may specialise in several areas, and their role is to be an impartial or neutral third party. A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner is specifically trained to work with families or people in relationships who want to resolve Family Law matters. Mediators are trained to remain neutral and find a resolution between disputing parties. Some Mediators are lawyers, others are not. Mediators cannot give legal advice.
FDR Mediation is often required before attending Family Court, and matters are usually resolved without resorting to legal battles in court.
Family Law Practitioners (Family Lawyers) can further train to become FDR practitioners or other ADR practitioners (Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners). Lawyers are trained to give legal advice, whereas Mediators are not.
Book a Consultation
To book a consultation with one of our team members, simply use the form below, call (02) 4226 2640 or visit our Wollongong Office at Level 1/1 Young Steet, Wollongong, NSW.
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