Why deal with both together?
Parenting and property are often interconnected. Who keeps the family home may affect where the children live. Child support interacts with property division. Addressing both in mediation lets parties see the full picture and make trade-offs — something courts can struggle to facilitate across separate proceedings.
How a combined session works
Our mediators structure combined sessions so that parenting is typically addressed first — most separating parents find it easier to negotiate finances once they have a clear picture of the co-parenting arrangement. The session then moves to property, superannuation and any other financial matters.
Does combining them take longer?
Yes — a combined parenting and property mediation typically takes a full day and may occasionally require a second session for complex matters. This is still considerably faster and cheaper than running two separate court proceedings.
What about the FDR certificate?
The Section 60I certificate requirement applies to parenting matters only. There is no equivalent legal precondition for property matters — but courts expect parties to have made genuine resolution attempts before listing a property hearing.
Formalising the agreement
A parenting agreement reached in mediation can be recorded as a parenting plan or filed as consent orders. Property agreements are typically formalised through consent orders or a binding financial agreement. Both can be prepared after the mediation session with the assistance of a family lawyer.
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