What the Law Says – Section 60I of the Family Law Act 1975
"A court must not hear an application for a parenting order under Part VII unless the applicant files a certificate given to the person by a family dispute resolution practitioner under subsection (8), indicating:
(a) the person did not attend family dispute resolution because the practitioner considers that it would not be appropriate to conduct the proposed family dispute resolution; or
(b) the person attended and all parties made a genuine effort to resolve the issue; or
(c) the person attended but one or more of the parties did not make a genuine effort to resolve the issue; or
(d) the person began attending but the practitioner considered it was not appropriate to continue."
When Mediation May Not Be Appropriate
- Allegations or risks of family violence or abuse
- The other party refuses to engage
- The other parent cannot be contacted or located
- Urgent matters regarding safety, school, travel or relocation
- Coercive or controlling behaviour
- Risk of abduction or alienation
Urgent Assessment and Support
If your case qualifies, I will conduct an evidence review and an online or phone interview, and if approved, issue your certificate usually within 24 hours of payment of the application fee.