Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is a type of mediation which helps people who are separating or divorcing to resolve their family law disputes with each other. It involves an impartial third party, called a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), or mediator. This person is independent of the people actually involved in the dispute. FDR is regulated by the Family Law Act 1975 (Commonwealth).
We can help you to work out agreements about children and parenting, or property and financial matters - either separately or together.
When a couple separates there is a lot to think about and decide. Many couples find they disagree about parenting arrangements and/or financial and property matters, or are unsure how to go about negotiating these decisions. Family Dispute Resolution can help resolve these kinds of disputes.
At Relationships Australia Victoria, we can help you to resolve conflicts about children and parenting matters, or property and financial matters - either separately or together.
For separating or divorcing couples, Family Dispute Resolution can be a helpful way to resolve family law disputes about property, finances, parenting and children. Family Dispute Resolution:
Before Family Dispute Resolution starts, the two people involved in the dispute each attend an individual assessment, to allow the practitioner (mediator) to thoroughly understand their situation and make sure that Family Dispute Resolution is appropriate in their circumstances and to help them prepare for the process. We take the safety and wellbeing of our clients very seriously, and if Family Dispute Resolution is not suitable clients are referred to other appropriate services that may be needed.
Family Dispute Resolution, also known as mediation, can help separated or divorced parents agree on living arrangements for their children and how to share parenting after separation, as well as resolve conflicts over child support and other costs. These types of disputes are commonly called parenting matters in the family law system. We provide our service with a focus on safety and the best interests of children, and ensuring that both people can participate.
Importantly, we can help you to resolve conflicts about children and parenting on their own or together with property and financial matters.
Find out more about Family Dispute Resolution for parenting matters.
When you separate, as well as making decisions about children and parenting if you have children, you also need to make decisions around financial and property matters. It’s not uncommon for separating couples to need to resolve issues around both parenting and property matters. It's a lot to think about and there are different ways to go about dividing property and finances following separation. Family Dispute Resolution, mediation and conciliation services can help to resolve issues around property matters.
Importantly, we can help you to resolve conflicts about property and financial matters on their own or together with child and parenting matters.
Find out more about our services to help resolve disputes about property and financial matters.
We are a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that receives funding from the Australian Government, and we work to ensure that our services are affordable for our clients. We offer a range of services to help separated couples to resolve their family law disputes. When you call us to talk about our service we can provide information on the fees.
Relationships Australia Victoria and our Relationships Australia federation has produced a range of free resources about separation, children and separation, parenting plans, family dispute resolution and property settlement, including booklets, brochures and tip sheets.
These are available in hard copy from your nearest centre and online here.
We offer a number of other services for people who are separating, including:
Contact us for more information on this service and how it could support you.
