Property & Financial Mediation (Family Dispute Resolution)

We help you have a focused, confidential conversation about financial and property matters following separation.

Accredited FDR practitioners | We facilitate the discussion | You can seek independent legal/financial advice at any stage.

Sessions are facilitated by an experienced practitioner who keeps things organised and on track.

You decide the outcomes; we document any agreements you choose to make. If you have one, we work alongside your lawyer or advisor, ensuring informed outcomes.

How the mediation process works for finances and property:

1. Individual preliminary meetings

Separate, confidential conversations to understand your situation, check suitability and safety, explain the process and discuss any adjustments (e.g. shuttle or online).

2. Preparation

We’ll give you clear guidance on the information and documents to gather.

We encourage you to seek independent legal and/or financial advice so you come to mediation informed.

If helpful, we can connect you—at no extra cost—with an internal support person who can help organise your figures into a simple spreadsheet for your lawyer. This is an administrative service only; we don’t provide legal or financial advice.

3. Joint or Shuttle Session (s)

Facilitated negotiation to identify options and reality-test proposals.

Often two sessions are useful: first to confirm the joint asset and liability pool, contributions and future needs; then to consider options. This helps you obtain targeted legal advice to prepare settlement proposals. If agreement isn’t reached, we’ll help clarify next steps.

4. Outcomes

We can prepare a written summary of agreements you choose to make. Your lawyer can advise on making them legally binding.

Is Property & Financial Mediation right for you?

Get organised, explore fair options and protect the asset pool through a focused, cooperative process.

Who is Property and Financial Mediation for?

Separated or separating couples wanting to make practical, informed financial decisions.
People who prefer a confidential and cooperative process instead of going to court.
Those needing help to clarify and organise financial information before negotiating.
Individuals who want to reach fair agreements about property, assets and contributions.
Separating couples looking to reduce conflict and move forward with clarity and respect.
People who want to preserve the asset pool as much as possible by using a focused process that avoids unnecessary delays and costs.

What we can work through:

Identifying and agreeing on the joint asset and liability pool.
Considering contributions and future financial needs.
Exploring settlement options and proposals.
Understanding the property settlement process.
Summarising agreements and next steps that are needed to formalise outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need full disclosure?

Yes. Full and frank disclosure by both parties is a legal requirement.

Will our agreement be legally binding?

Mediation summaries are not binding by themselves. Your lawyer can formalise agreements via consent orders or a binding financial agreement.

Can you advise us on the “right” split?

No. We facilitate discussion and option-generation. We don’t provide legal or financial advice. Independent advice can be obtained at any stage.

We believe that any financial and property settlement should go hand in hand with legal and/or financial advice making sure that informed decisions are made.

Can we meet online?

Yes, we offer secure online sessions as well as in-person options. Where appropriate, and to help conversations stay constructive, we also facilitate conversations held in separate rooms (shuttle mediation), either in person or online.

Can we discuss superannuation?

Yes, superannuation is part of your asset pool and negotiations. The formalisation of any super split is arranged through your lawyer as part of formalising the agreement.

What about our pets?

Approaches to pets have evolved. Under recent changes, the Family Law now recognises companion animals as more than property. We support you in making caring, practical arrangements about your pets, reflecting the important place they hold in your family.

Melbourne Conflict Solutions