Welcome to our 3 step ONLINE process TAILORED just for you.
come on, get happy.
Are you thinking of separating?
If you are thinking of separating from your partner, APPLY today. FREE intake documentation analysis. FLAT FEE $350 1.5 hour Session. Your session is aided by a specialist trained in Family Law and Psychology to explore potential outcomes for a different and changing future. Providing you with a guide to help you make the right decisions going forward. Gain insight into the ups and downs of what you might encounter legally, financially, mentally, and emotionally for you and your children throughout a separation process. No further obligation ‘one off’ sessions available for session with or without your partner. Initial consultation is discreet and may be undertaken by one party only. FREE and confidential consult plus further direction analysis.
SESSION INCLUSION:
Pre-Session intake documentation – please allow yourself up to 30 minutes.
(this may be done in the privacy of your own home online)
Joint session with an allocated FDRP and Both Parties
(parties may choose to attend this online session together or separately)
Start your free online Mediation assessment
All you need is a laptop, tablet, computer with a webcam or a smartphone to connect to us.
We Assess Your Dispute for FREE.
At Partridge Family Law we offer a free, no-obligation consultation with a fully accredited FDRP (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner). All you need is a laptop, tablet, computer with a webcam or a smartphone to connect to us.
We Will Coordinate the Mediation.
There is no need to be concerned about contacting the other party to your dispute. We will manage the diary arrangements for you.
Fixed Fee Mediation.
You will know at the outset exactly what the mediation fees will be. Unlike litigation, there will be no surprise legal bills after the fact.
We are here to help you find a new trail.
it’s going to be okay.
Times are changing for the better for separating families. Although this can be the most challenging experience of one's life, what was once an extremely costly and lengthy process may now be made easier. This being broken down in direct help, fixed fees, and time management allowing for parties in dispute to move on with their lives with dignity and balance.
Going through a mediation process with an FDRP who is a trained professional in the facilitation of agreement based change rather than litigious argument will save you time and money. The aim being to reduce your stress load so that you can move on to new beginnings while maintaining the management of your ongoing responsibilities. In particular with relevance to co-parenting and the best interests of the child(ren). Control is in the hands of the parties to dispute so while the law still applies the possibilities are enormous and outcomes may be tailor made to suit your individual circumstances.
When going through separation consider the following:
LEgal Fees
Going to court may cost you anywhere upwards of $200,000 depending on your situation.
time
To get to Family Court may take upwards of 30 months. The expenditure of time, and the loss of value with time spent more positively in many cases is the most expensive part of protracted dispute. In other words you might be somewhere else doing much better and more positive things with your time.
Satisfaction of outcome
It is not uncommon for lengthy and expensive litigation to yield continuing dissatisfaction.
hands of power
Once a dispute is in court outcomes are in the hands of a judge and individual control is relinquished.
3 STEP PROCESS
STEP 1 - FREE no obligation suitability assessment
This is a meeting via a confidential phone call of 20-30 minutes duration with a qualified FDRP as a form of discovery about yourself and your situation where you will be offered support and understanding. The information you are able to provide us with will help us decide the suitability of your situation to mediate, under the Family Law Act 1975, and the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008.
Step 2 - Intake Sessions
Further to Step 1 an intake session is used as your time for you to bring all the information that is important to you for you to share and discuss. Both parties will be offered the same impartial opportunity to do this within a reasonable time frame from Step 1. It is important to remember that these meetings are confidential and without prejudice, meaning they are not for use again at any other proceedings. You may be assured that your privacy and freedom to speak is protected throughout your commitment to this process.
*(except in instances where the FDRP has a mandatory reporting obligation under the Family Law Act 1975, (s67ZA(2)), (s67ZA(3)), (s67ZA(4)).
Step 3 - Mediation Session Explained
This will typically be a 3-4 hour session where parties can come together in an informal setting (with a child focused approach) to discuss their independent needs and the needs of their children if applicable. This session is undertaken with a view to discussing and seeking resolution for areas of dispute that may be blockages to moving forward in a happy and healthy way as separated individuals, and co-parents. This session may or may not be lawyer assisted as per the preference of each party. Where areas of conflict resolution will be achieved agreements may be written up for the benefit of both parties. The position of the FDRP is to operate on an impartial basis, and it is not one to give independent legal advise except upon matters of procedure. Shuttling processes may be used whereby individual parties experiencing stress will still be able to be heard through the means of individual caucusing communication. Put simply separate meetings might be held to continue to facilitate the process where or when communication breakdowns might occur. It is within our policy to do our utmost to protect vulnerable parties and utilise methods to further peaceful negotiations. The mediation process may be accessed at any time again in the future to moderate ongoing life changes.
Family Mediation Explained
Family Dispute Resolution is the process where an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner assists people in dispute to negotiate a mutually satisfactory resolution and avoid Court. We know that family separation can be a difficult time for many and it is not uncommon to feel anxious being in attendance with an ex-partner. This is quite normal and we are here to assist with putting you at ease.
It is important for you to know that the FDRP (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner) is impartial, and does not take sides or make decisions about which party is right or wrong. Instead they work with you and the other party, along with your lawyers (if applicable), to come to an agreeable solution as part of your separation.
what to expect
Your journey with us will begin by way of a free phone call session during which we take down some important details specific to your individual needs. We will then proceed to offer you an intake session to take place at a time convenient to you. This will be a private session when it is your time to present us with all of your concerns. It is an information gathering session. All information gathered is on a without prejudice basis, and remains confidential in line with the Family Law Act 1975, Sect 10H. After both parties have attended an intake session (either in person, or online as per current Covid-19 Restrictions) we may go ahead and set a time for your mediation session. This is usually a process that may take up to 3-4 hours taking into account any necessary breaks. The mediation process itself is a structured negotiation process where a professionally trained and independent impartial FDRP (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner) assists the parties to seek resolutions and reach agreements.
partridge family team
Melissa Partridge FDRP is 'almost' a local, having lived on the Gold Coast for 18 years. After living in multiple diverse communities she is a culturally sensitive practitioner. A working history of foreign languages and culture coupled with an education in linguistics, law, and psychology means this FDRP is able to provide a service of understanding that you will require while you go through this often difficult transitional period in your life. A Mother, and single parent of 2 adult children herself, you may be assured of compassion and focus on the best-interests of you and your child(ren).
Education Bio: B.A. Languages/Legal Studies, Grad. Cert. Business Mediation/Arbitration, Grad. Dip. Psychology, Grad. Dip. FDRP (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner).
Membership: Professional Member Resolution Institute https://www.resolution.institute/ Registered as Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Department of the Federal Attorney General pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975
Darius Partridge is our ‘go-to’ I.T guy.
Jerica Partridge is our front line support. Diary Management. She will offer you patient kindness and as a listening ear provide you with recommendations for collaborative support agencies. Document support specialist. Digital Communications Manager