Online Family Dispute Resolution • Available nationally
The call you make
before you call
a lawyer.
Family dispute resolution is the structured, professionally facilitated path to working out parenting and financial matters without going to court. Significantly less costly than contested proceedings, and most families resolve their matter in a matter of weeks rather than years.
This is one of the hardest things you will get through.
If you have landed here, you are in the middle of something painful. A relationship ending. Decisions about children, or property, or both. Financial uncertainty. And the weight of not knowing what comes next.
Most people are told they need a lawyer. Sometimes that is true. For many families navigating separation, there is a step that comes first. One that is faster, less adversarial, and significantly less costly than contested proceedings.
"Family dispute resolution is not about deciding who is right. It is about finding a way forward that works, on terms you have reached yourselves."
That is what we do. Entirely online. Available anywhere in Australia. Ready within weeks, not months.
FDR versus court. The difference that matters.
Family Dispute Resolution is a structured, professionally facilitated process that helps separating families reach their own agreements, without a judge making decisions for them.
Going to court
Expensive, slow, and out of your hands
Family Dispute Resolution
Faster, calmer, and you stay in control
18 to 36 monthsTypical timeframe from filing to final hearing.
Weeks, not yearsMost matters resolve in a matter of weeks from first enquiry.
Tens of thousands per partyLegal fees accumulate from first instruction and compound throughout.
Less costly than contested proceedingsTransparent fees agreed upfront. A small share of what a contested matter typically takes from both parties.
A judge decidesYou lose control. A stranger makes decisions about your children, your property, or both.
You reach the agreementThe mediator facilitates. The decisions are yours. Both parties own the outcome.
Entrenches conflictThe adversarial process deepens divisions and makes any ongoing relationship harder.
Reduces ongoing conflictCollaborative by design. Less damaging to any ongoing relationship between parties.
Parenting and care arrangements
Child-focused parenting plans and the basis for Consent Orders. FDR helps parents reach workable arrangements that grow with their children, without a judge deciding for them.
Learn moreFinancial and property settlement
Property, superannuation, debt, and de facto matters under the codified four-step framework in the Family Law Act. Structured mediation that meets the disclosure obligations the 2024 amendments brought in.
Learn moreSection 60I certificates
Required before Family Court parenting applications. Issued only following a proper FDR process, in the certificate type that reflects what occurred.
Learn moreNot sure where to start? Start with a conversation.
A free discovery call with an accredited FDR practitioner. No pressure, no commitment. Just a straight conversation about your options.
Most people dread the day of mediation as much as the process itself.
The drive across the city. The waiting room. Walking past the other party in a corridor. None of that has anything to do with resolving your dispute, but all of it shapes how you walk into the room. Online FDR removes that entirely.
No logistics overhead
No travel, no parking, no half-day written off. Join from your home, your office, or wherever you happen to be.
Safer for high-conflict matters
Genuine physical separation throughout. No shared waiting room. No unwanted proximity.
The practitioner comes to you
Available anywhere in Australia. Both parties can be in different cities or states.
Faster than government services
Community services can take months. We are typically available within two weeks of first enquiry.
Real shuttle mediation
Parties in different homes, different cities. The separation is genuine, not just different rooms.
Not sure where your matter would land? Find your most realistic path.
- 1How much you are ready to spend
- 2How quickly you want it resolved
- 3How flexible you can be
Three quick questions, no sign-up. See the most realistic path for your situation, what it tends to cost, and how long it tends to take.
From first conversation to signed agreement.
Every step happens online, at a pace that suits your situation. For the full walkthrough, see How it works.
Free discovery call
A no-obligation conversation. We explain how FDR works, whether it is right for your circumstances, and answer any questions before you commit to anything.
Free • No obligationIndividual intake sessions
Each party meets privately with the practitioner. Your chance to share your perspective and what matters most before the joint session begins. For financial matters, the duty of disclosure is walked through here and the Full and Frank Disclosure worksheet is provided.
Private • Confidential • OnlineJoint mediation session
A structured session facilitated by the practitioner. Four hours for parenting matters, three hours for financial. Where direct communication is not appropriate, shuttle mediation keeps parties in separate breakout rooms throughout, with the practitioner moving between them.
Shuttle mediation availableAgreement and documentation
Where agreement is reached, it is documented. A Parenting Plan, financial heads of agreement, or the basis for Consent Orders. Where it is not, a Section 60I certificate is issued reflecting what occurred. Documents signed electronically and delivered within 48 hours.
Legally recognised documents
Questions we hear every day
Straightforward answers before you commit to anything.
For parenting orders, yes. Under section 60I of the Family Law Act, FDR is the step the law expects to be taken before applying for parenting orders, unless an exemption applies. For financial and property matters, the Section 60I certificate does not apply, but every initiating application requires a Genuine Steps Certificate under Schedule 1 of the FCFCOA (Family Law) Rules 2021. The Genuine Steps Certificate is signed by the party themselves and confirms a genuine attempt at dispute resolution has been made.
Yes. The Family Law Act does not require FDR to be conducted in person. Online mediation by an accredited FDRP is fully legally valid. Section 60I certificates issued after online sessions carry exactly the same legal standing as those from in-person sessions, and the statutory confidentiality and inadmissibility protections under sections 10H and 10J apply equally.
If the other party refuses to attend after being given a genuine opportunity, a Section 60I certificate under paragraph 60I(8)(a) can be issued documenting non-attendance. The matter can then proceed to court for parenting orders. Courts may take non-participation into account when making subsequent orders, including in relation to costs.
Most matters resolve in a matter of weeks rather than months. Discovery calls are typically available within a few days of enquiry, intake within a week or two, and the first joint session within two weeks of initial contact. Higher-conflict matters take longer, but still run significantly faster than the 18 to 36 month timeline for contested family law proceedings.
Yes. Our practice is entirely online so you can participate from anywhere in Australia. Both parties can be in different cities or states. Access to an accredited FDRP is no longer determined by postcode.
Yes. We handle parenting matters, financial and property settlement, and Section 60I certificates. Whether you are mid-separation, already divorced with ongoing parenting disputes, or dealing with financial matters only, FDR is available and appropriate. The Family Law Amendment Act 2024, in force from 10 June 2025, codified the four-step property settlement framework into the Family Law Act and imposed new statutory obligations on FDR practitioners to inform parties about their duty of disclosure.
Available throughout Australia
Online FDR is available in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory. Clients connect from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, and every regional centre in between. See state-by-state availability →
The call you make before you call a lawyer.
A free, no-obligation conversation with an accredited FDR practitioner. Whether your matter involves children, property, or both, this is a chance to understand your options before you commit to anything.
Free • Confidential • No obligation • Available nationally • AGD Accredited