What if We Can’t Come to an Agreement?

The latest figures in Australia show that the average legal costs for separation and divorce is in the vicinity of $50,000 to $100,000 for each party. This is not obvious at the outset. But if you were going to knowingly spend $50,000, it would make sense to use a professional mediation service in advance in an attempt to avoid such legal costs.

If you are unable to reach an agreement via mediation about your child/children’s ongoing care, our Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner will provide you a Section 60(I) Certificate so that you can proceed to Court. Please click here to learn more about the Section 60I Certificate.

If you are unable to reach an agreement via mediation in relation to the division of your property and finances, it will simply mean that you will need to institute legal proceedings for it to be resolved.

At the Centre for Mediation, we are mindful that it may be that you are not ready to make decisions. If you are unable to make agreements with the other party at the time of your mediation, it may be that you need more time to allow your emotions, disappointments, hurt or anything else you are going through to settle so that you can consider options and reach agreement. In such instances, our Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner can make simple agreements to address things that cannot wait, for example the imminent care of your child/children or your mortgage payments, with a view to come back to review and make more long-lasting agreements at a time when you are ready. We want you to make choices that you are ready to make.