Family Law Mediators Sydney
EM Family Law’s founding partner is a leading Family Law Mediator in Sydney. We are proud to provide mediation services in Sydney and all of NSW as an effort to assist parties in resolving their disputes in an effective manner. Our family law mediation team boasts 3 decades of experience when it comes to negotiating settlements in both parenting and property issues. Furthermore, we are a National Accredited Mediator, and are members of two industry–leading organisations, LEADR and IAMA. We are committed to offering world–class mediation services that can help parties overcome the challenges they face.
EM Family law mediation services are based in Sydney and provide family law mediator services to all of NSW.
Family Law Mediation
Mediation is a process of dispute resolution where an impartial third party helps two or more parties involved in a disagreement to come to an agreement. It can be used to resolve financial and/or parenting issues, before or after court proceedings have commenced. Agreements about the care of children reached through mediation can be formalised through Parenting Plans, and can also be made legally binding by the Court (known as consent orders).
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is a type of mediation that must, in most cases, take place prior to any court action being taken for parenting matters. Dispute resolution services offer an affordable and fast way to solve disputes, while allowing the parties more control over the process and outcome. When selecting someone to assist with FDR, it is important to make sure they are registered with the Commonwealth Attorney–General’s Department as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), or accredited with the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM) if conducting arbitration.
If you need assistance with dispute resolution, you may obtain it through Legal Aid, Community Legal Centres, or private legal practitioners. Legal Aid is usually subject to means and assets tests, as well as limitations on the type of cases for which it can provide assistance. Community Legal Centres offer free advice and may be able to help with representation in some cases, a list of Community Legal Centres in each state and territory is located on their website. Generally, private legal practitioners work for a fee and stipulate their fee upfront. Each state and territory has a Law Society or Institute (for solicitors) and a Bar Association (for barristers), which often provide referral services to legal practitioners, mediation services, and lists of arbitrators.
Accredited Family Law Specialist
Members of our senior legal team are accredited Family Law Specialists. In the legal profession an Accredited Specialist is a practising solicitor who has demonstrated specialised competence in a particular area of law and has been conferred Specialist Accreditation by the Law Society under its Specialist Accreditation Scheme. Edwards Family Lawyers is a highly experienced specialist family law firm that has 3 accredited specialists working out of our offices in Sydney CBD and North Sydney.
Our Mediation Services
Edwards Moloney Family Law offer Mediation Services to assist parties to engage in effective dispute resolution. Our Principal, Frances Edwards, has extensive experience in negotiating settlements in both parenting and property matters, and is a National Accredited Mediator and member of LEADR and IAMA.
Frances Edwards encourages parties to engage in the process of mediation, which is a cost effective process of negotiation and dispute resolution. Her wealth of experience as a Family Lawyer and as an Accredited Specialist in Family Law for over 20 years has enabled her to develop strong skills to assist parties to achieve a negotiated settlement.
Frances Edwards’ knowledge of all aspects of Family Law enables her to skillfully guide parties in their attempt to achieve a resolution of their issues. Frances Edwards is able to offer mediation services to parties prior to or after proceedings have been commenced in the Family Law Courts.
THE MEDIATION PROCESS
Frances Edwards will conduct a pre-mediation meeting with each party and/or their lawyer. After the pre-mediation meeting, Frances Edwards will have a greater understanding of the issues between the parties and be in a position to assist the parties to prepare for a joint mediation, if it is deemed suitable. Often, the parties will be asked to collate certain documents and information to be provided to Frances prior to the joint mediation session.
If Frances Edwards believes a mediation is appropriate, a date and venue will be set. Depending on the type of dispute, the mediation will be allocated a half or whole day.
Mediations can either be conducted with the parties alone, or with their lawyers present. During the mediation, the parties will be asked to identify and discuss all the relevant issues, and any further issues that may arise throughout the course of the mediation. Frances Edwards will facilitate the parties to reach a negotiated resolution of all issues.
FACILITIES/LOCATION
Edwards Family Lawyers is located in the North Sydney CBD. We have the facilities to conduct mediations, including a conference room where the joint sessions take place, and individual rooms for each party and their lawyer, or support person. Alternatively, the mediation may take place at another agreed venue, if more suitable to the parties.
If you would like to book a mediation or make more enquires please telephone our office on (02) 8920 3422 or email Frances at frances@edwardsfamilylawyers.com.au.
To read more about Frances Edwards’ experience and qualifications click here.
WHY MEDIATE?
Family Law Mediation is an effective tool for parties to reach a resolution of all issues without the need to resort to litigation. It can also assist parties who have commenced proceedings, but wish to resolve their matter without incurring the significant costs of proceeding all the way to a final court hearing.
Mediation also assists to provide parties with effective communication tools which can often assist separated parents in dealing with the many day to day parenting issues often faced by separated couples.
Family Law Mediation provides a quicker and significantly more economical method for resolving, or at the very least narrowing the issues, between the parties.
As the mediator, Frances Edwards acts as an independent and neutral facilitator. As a mediator, she cannot take sides or make any decisions on behalf of the parties. In her role as mediator, Frances Edwards uses the evaluative model for mediation. This means that whilst Frances Edwards has the scope to introduce her view to clarify the application of a legal principle, she is unable to provide independent legal advice to either party, either before or during the mediation. In most cases, it is preferable for each party to seek their own independent legal advice before engaging in mediation. Parties can attend mediation with or without their lawyers present.
CONFIDENTIALITY
As far as is permitted by law, everything said in preparation for and during the course of the mediation, is confidential. The participating parties will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. Confidentiality assists the process of dispute resolution as it enables the parties to voice all of their concerns with confidence and, in doing so, increases the chance of reaching a negotiated settlement. A confidential mediation provides an open forum which enables parties to work together and to openly explore options for resolution.
Our Services
Divorce & Separation
Expert divorce lawyers
When married couples separate, there is only one ground for the grant of a Divorce Order, and that is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This is established by the parties being separated for a minimum of 12 months. In some circumstances, parties can be living under the same roof and still be able to establish this ground.
Property Settlement
Expert property settlement lawyers
Edwards Family Lawyers can assist you and your spouse/partner to come to an agreement in relation to all financial matters and issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship, including the division of all assets and liabilities, spouse maintenance payments, superannuation splitting orders and child support departure Orders.
Negotiation & Resolution
Expert negotiation and resolution lawyers
Opportunities for negotiation and settlement exist not only before proceedings are commenced, but also after proceedings have been commenced and right up until the time that the Court finally hears and determines the matter. Parties can settle a matter at any time.
Parenting & Children
Parenting and Children Family Lawyers
The best interests of the children is the paramount consideration when determining the most appropriate and suitable arrangements for the children after a separation. At Edwards Family Lawyers, we encourage our clients to participate in the counselling or mediation services available to assist them to reach an agreement with their spouse/former partner
Mediation Services
Mediation Lawyers
Edwards Family Lawyers offer Mediation Services to assist parties to engage in effective dispute resolution. Our Principal, Frances Edwards, has extensive experience in negotiating settlements in both parenting and property matters, and is a National Accredited Mediator and member of LEADR and IAMA.
De Facto
De Facto Lawyers
De Facto couples (including same sex couples) who separate after 1 March 2009 have the same rights as married couples. The rights and obligations of couples upon the breakdown of a Marriage or De Facto relationship are now all governed by the Family Law Act 1975. De Facto couples who separated prior to 1 March 2009 are still covered by the old State legislation
Our Family Lawyers are here to help
We navigate legal issues for our clients with empathy and a deep understanding of the associated stresses and implications. We can help you, like we have helped many clients in Sydney.
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Edwards Family Lawyers is committed to providing expert advice on all areas of Family Law following the breakdown of your marriage or de facto relationship, including same-sex relationships.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
We acknowledge the Cammeraygal and Gadigal people being the traditional owners of the land on which we work and their elders past and present.
