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Family Law

Family law mediation and arbitration in Ipswich

Mediation gets you to an agreement. Arbitration gets you to a decision. Both keep you out of a courtroom, and both work better with a lawyer who has prepared you properly. We'll tell you which one fits, and represent you through it.
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Mediation: an agreement you both own

A neutral mediator, a private room, and a result you had a hand in writing.
In mediation a neutral third person helps you and your former partner negotiate, without deciding anything for you. Sessions are confidential and usually far quicker and cheaper than litigation. Because you shape the outcome, agreements reached in mediation tend to hold up better than orders imposed by a judge, and the process is easier on relationships that have to continue, particularly where children are involved.

We prepare you beforehand, attend with you, and afterwards turn what you've agreed into consent orders or a binding financial agreement so it becomes enforceable.
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Arbitration: a binding decision, on your timetable

For property and financial disputes that need a decision, not another conversation.
Arbitration is a private hearing where an arbitrator, usually an experienced family lawyer or former judge, hears both sides and makes a decision. Under the Family Law Act it's available for property and financial matters, not parenting.

The award is binding and can be registered with the court, which gives it the same effect as a court order. What you gain is control: you choose the arbitrator, the timetable and the scope, instead of waiting months for a court date. We prepare your case, represent you at the hearing and help implement the award afterwards.
Talk to a family lawyer

Which one is right for you

It depends on whether the problem is agreement or decision.
If you and your former partner can talk, even badly, mediation is usually the first step, and for most parenting matters the court expects family dispute resolution before anything is filed. If you've tried to agree and can't, or one of you needs finality on a financial question, arbitration can get you a binding answer in weeks rather than a year.

Some matters use both: mediation to narrow the issues, arbitration to decide what's left. We'll walk you through the trade-offs in your first conversation.
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Looking for a different family law service?

Family law rarely arrives one issue at a time. Property, parenting, agreements and protection often overlap, so the pages below cover the rest of what we do. If you're not sure where your situation fits, call 0483 980 001 and we'll point you the right way.

Divorce and separation

Property settlement

Parenting arrangements

Consent orders

Binding agreements

Spousal maintenance

Domestic violence

Dispute resolution

Prenups

Superannuation splitting

International family law

Living arrangements

OUR ACCREDITED NETWORK

Held to the standards the profession sets, not just our own.

Every Stanford Legal matter is guided by the professional bodies that set the standard for practice in Queensland, so you always know you're in trusted hands.
Why Stanford Legal

Prepared, represented, and never left guessing

The value of a lawyer in mediation or arbitration isn't in the room. It's in the week before, when you learn what a fair result looks like, and the week after, when the agreement is drafted so it holds. We do both, and we keep you informed in between.
6K+
Matters Resolved
4.3K+
Aussie Families Assisted
2.2K+
Homes Settled
5 Stars
On Google Reviews

Meet your legal team

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Arrow Ico

Logan Stanford

Managing Director
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Victoria Eastwood

Legal Practice Director
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Janelle May

Practice Manager
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Jo-Anne Furlong

Associate Solicitor
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Laura Stuart

Senior Conveyancer
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Ryder Simms-Reeve

Paralegal
TESTIMONIALS

Trusted by families across South East Queensland

Families across South East Queensland have used mediation and arbitration with us to close a hard chapter without a trial.
"I simply can’t thank and commend Richie, Steven, Renata and the whole team at Stanford Financial enough for making my mortgage refinance as smooth as humanly possible."
Dan
Stanford Financial Client
"We are so Blessed with our new Home. Thanks to Stanford Legal, Laura was a joy to communicate with anytime we needed to enquire. Quick, reliable and very Trustworthy."
Katrina Emberson
Stanford Legal Client
"We are beyond grateful for Richie and the team at Stanford! 🙌🏻 Through every hurdle and challenge, they went exceptionally far to help get our application through."
Khirsten Mamangun
Stanford Financial Client
"One thing I always love and look for when choosing people to guide me is how much time and presence they give. They treated us like we were the only client they had."
Dragica Radosavljevic
Stanford Legal Client
"All the team at Stanford were good to deal with. If you're a Veteran struggling to get a loan approved because you're on Incaps, or Super, speak to them."
Stewart S
Stanford Financial Client
"This is the second time we’ve used stanford financial, and once again the experience was outstanding."
Blake Whitehead
Stanford Financial Client
"Phenomenal service. Thank you to the Stanford Legal team for all your help & guidance."
Bryony Winsor
Stanford Legal Client
"I can’t recommend Stanford legal enough. All 3 property sales have been seamless, professional and efficient. The team are amazing and will look after you."
Christie Johnston
Stanford Legal Client
"The team at Stanford Financial are brilliant! I was referred to them by a friend and dealing with them has been a fantastic experience."
Andrew Bell
Stanford Financial Client
"I honestly can't thank the team enough at Stanford Financial, especially Richie and Mitch! They both went above and beyond to get my finance sorted, and they did it all within 24 hours!"
Jamie Harris
Stanfor Financial Client
QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

Can't find the answer you're after?
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Are mediation agreements binding?
Not on their own. An agreement reached in mediation becomes legally binding once it's formalised, either as consent orders approved by the court or as a binding financial agreement that meets the requirements of the Family Law Act. Until then it's a record of what you agreed, which is valuable, but not enforceable. We handle that final step so the agreement is worth what you think it's worth.
Can you go to court after mediation?
Yes. If mediation doesn't resolve everything, you can apply to the court for the issues that remain, and what was said in mediation generally stays confidential. If an agreement was formalised and one person doesn't comply, the court can enforce it.
What's the difference between mediation and family dispute resolution?
Family dispute resolution is mediation run by an accredited FDR practitioner, and it's the form the court requires before most parenting applications. Mediation is the broader term, used for property matters and for parenting matters where the certificate isn't needed. In practice the process feels similar. The difference is who runs it and what certificate comes out the other end.
Can arbitration decide parenting matters?
No. Family law arbitration is limited to property and financial disputes, including spousal maintenance and superannuation. Parenting matters are resolved by agreement, through family dispute resolution, or by the court.

We're here to help you.

Get in touch with us to help guide you through your legal challenges.
0483 980 001
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