Schedule of Costs for Family Dispute Resolution
Mediation is a cost-effective alternative to going to the Family Court, where each parent on average spends $30,000 in court fees, legal representation and other trial costs.
It is important to ensure that mediation remains accessible to all, and this means making it affordable, which is why we charge at the hourly rate of $195 (excl. GST). In contrast, other mediators and mediation organisations charge up to $450 per hour, which for many people makes family mediation unaffordable.
PLEASE NOTE: By commencing and thereafter engaging in mediation services with Family Mediation Brisbane as your mediator, you agree - through your part performance in engaging in such mediation services - to the family mediation fees as calculated pursuant to the following Schedule of Costs:
It is important to ensure that mediation remains accessible to all, and this means making it affordable, which is why we charge at the hourly rate of $195 (excl. GST). In contrast, other mediators and mediation organisations charge up to $450 per hour, which for many people makes family mediation unaffordable.
PLEASE NOTE: By commencing and thereafter engaging in mediation services with Family Mediation Brisbane as your mediator, you agree - through your part performance in engaging in such mediation services - to the family mediation fees as calculated pursuant to the following Schedule of Costs:
- Initial consultation: FREE OF CHARGE
- Intake of Initiating Parent: 1 hour
- Invitation to Other Parent: 15 minutes
- Intake of Other Parent: 1 hour
- Mediation Preparation: 2 hours
- Mediation (minimum of 3 hours): 3 hours
- Additional Mediation Time (per hour): 1 hour
- Mediation Agreement on children's matters: 1 hour
- Mediation Agreement on property matters: 1 hour
- Mediation property schedule: 1 hour
- Mediation Agreement formatting into Draft Consent Orders: 1.5 hours
- Amendments to Mediation Agreement/Draft Consent Orders: 1 hour per set of requested amendments
- Section 60I Certificate: 1 hour per certificate
- Boardroom Hire: 1.5 hours per half-day
- Additional room hire (if Shuttle Mediation is required): 1.5 hours per half-day
The above fees are exclusive of GST. These costs can be divided between the parties or covered by an individual party, depending on any agreement between the parties.
Typically, each party will have an intake, participate in three hours of mediation, and receive a Section 60I Certificate. Therefore, the total cost to each party when equally contributing to the cost is typically $1,200 (excl. GST). PLEASE NOTE: This estimate will vary if the mediation concerns both children's matters and property matters, if the mediation is shuttle (conducted from two separate rooms), if the mediation is conducted by telephone conference, if the mediation requires two mediators, or if the mediation continues beyond the allocated time.
For child-inclusive mediations, each party will have an an intake with the mediator and an individual parent session with the child consultant. Each child will spend up to one hour with the child consultant. Each party will participate in four hours of mediation and receive a Section 60I Certificate. Therefore, where there is one child, the total cost to each party when equally contributing to the cost is typically $1,700 (excl. GST).
The issuance of a Section 60I Certificate to each party is a mandatory part of this mediation process. Draft Consent Orders formatting - even though prepared before the mediation - is provided to the parties only if agreements are reached. Draft Consent Orders templates are not provided.
PLEASE NOTE: If the mediation is booked but cancelled before 9.30am (Brisbane Time) on the business day preceding the day of the mediation, then a cancellation fee of $750.75 (incl. GST) applies, representing mediation preparation and booking time. If the mediation is booked but cancelled after 9.30am (Brisbane Time) on the business day preceding the day of the mediation, then no refund applies as to all mediation fees. If an intake is booked but cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled commencement of the intake, or if a party fails to attend their intake at the scheduled time, then no refund applies as to that intake's fees. This is because professional time is allocated to the set appointments, for which Family Mediation Brisbane incurs costs.
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below:
Typically, each party will have an intake, participate in three hours of mediation, and receive a Section 60I Certificate. Therefore, the total cost to each party when equally contributing to the cost is typically $1,200 (excl. GST). PLEASE NOTE: This estimate will vary if the mediation concerns both children's matters and property matters, if the mediation is shuttle (conducted from two separate rooms), if the mediation is conducted by telephone conference, if the mediation requires two mediators, or if the mediation continues beyond the allocated time.
For child-inclusive mediations, each party will have an an intake with the mediator and an individual parent session with the child consultant. Each child will spend up to one hour with the child consultant. Each party will participate in four hours of mediation and receive a Section 60I Certificate. Therefore, where there is one child, the total cost to each party when equally contributing to the cost is typically $1,700 (excl. GST).
The issuance of a Section 60I Certificate to each party is a mandatory part of this mediation process. Draft Consent Orders formatting - even though prepared before the mediation - is provided to the parties only if agreements are reached. Draft Consent Orders templates are not provided.
PLEASE NOTE: If the mediation is booked but cancelled before 9.30am (Brisbane Time) on the business day preceding the day of the mediation, then a cancellation fee of $750.75 (incl. GST) applies, representing mediation preparation and booking time. If the mediation is booked but cancelled after 9.30am (Brisbane Time) on the business day preceding the day of the mediation, then no refund applies as to all mediation fees. If an intake is booked but cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled commencement of the intake, or if a party fails to attend their intake at the scheduled time, then no refund applies as to that intake's fees. This is because professional time is allocated to the set appointments, for which Family Mediation Brisbane incurs costs.
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below:
