How Much Is Family Mediation?
By Lisanne Iriks, Life Mediation
When you’re going through a separation or trying to sort out parenting or property issues, one of the first questions that comes up is cost.
“How much is family mediation?”
And underneath that, the real question is usually:
“Is this going to be better than paying thousands to lawyers or going to court?”
The answer?
In most cases, yes. Family mediation is not just more affordable. It’s often faster, more flexible, and better for your co-parenting relationship in the future.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Does Family Mediation Cost in Australia?
At Life Mediation, the total cost depends on how complex your situation is, how many sessions you need, and whether you’re discussing parenting, property, or both.
Here’s a general guide:
- Pre-mediation intake session
This is where we meet with each person individually before any joint session begins.
Approximately $400 per person - Joint mediation sessions
These are structured sessions (usually 3 hours without lawyers and a half day or full day with lawyers present) to work through parenting plans, property splits or both.
$200 per person per hour plus a small admin fee, per session - Agreements and summaries
If you reach an agreement, we can prepare a written summary or parenting plan.Often this is done in the mediation session and you do not need to pay extra for this. Sometimes the agreement is so complex that the mediator needs to spend more time on it after the session and there might be small charges.
Most families only need one or two sessions. Others may require more, especially if property and parenting are being discussed as these are two different processes and two different agreements. At Life Mediation we are very efficient and often only one session is enough but we also don’t want to rush the process as the decisions you make are important for your future and your children’s future. And even with several sessions, mediation is still a fraction of what court proceedings usually cost.
How That Compares to Court
Going through the court process can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Here’s a rough comparison:
- Initial lawyer fees: $5,000 to $10,000 per person
- Full court process: $20,000 to $40,000 and often more per person
- Expert reports, barristers, delays: Additional and unpredictable costs
And that’s before you add in time off work, extra childcare, and the emotional toll of months or years of uncertainty. Plus the conflict normally gets worse when co-parents go to court.
Mediation, on the other hand, is paid session by session. There are no hidden fees. You share the cost. You can stop when you both feel you have had enough support and you can usually reach agreement far sooner.
Why Some People Choose Private Mediation Over Free Services
Government-funded services like Family Relationship Centres offer free or low-cost mediation, mostly for parenting matters. These services can be a great starting point, but they do come with some limitations.
At Life Mediation, we’ve supported many clients who came to us after long waitlists or short sessions with long waiting periods in between through public services. Here’s why private mediation is often the preferred choice for our clients:
- Shorter wait times so you can usually get started within a week or two
- More time per session mediations are 3 hours or a half day or full day instead of 2 hours.
- One consistent mediator instead of a different mediator for your intake and mediation session.
- Parenting and property can both be dealt with so you don’t have to go elsewhere if you are done with parenting
- Customised agreements written in clear, practical language you can use
When things are time-sensitive or emotionally tense, getting help quickly and consistently can make a big difference.
What You’re Really Paying For
Family mediation isn’t just about saving money on legal fees. It’s about:
- Reducing conflict so your children don’t stay stuck in the middle
- Getting out of limbo faster
- Protecting your mental health during a hard time
- Reaching agreements you can actually stick to
- Avoiding months or years of legal back and forth
- The ability to move forward and not fracture the co-parenting relationship even more.
And you don’t have to do it all alone. A good mediator keeps things calm, focused, and respectful, even when conversations are tough.
Contact us now to see how we can help. We do virtual appointments anywhere in Australia or in person sessions in Perth
You’re welcome to book a free 15-minute phone consultation with us.We offer in-person mediation in Perth, as well as flexible online and phone mediation options.