Abstract
[Extract]
Mediation has long played an important role in resolving family law matters. Recent amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) take this one step further: attendance at family dispute resolution is now effectively a compulsory prefiling requirement in family matters concerning children. A range of merits have been claimed for alternative dispute resolution in the area of family law. Prominent among these is the notion that mediation provides a more flexible and less confrontational environment for dispute resolution than the courtroom, with corresponding benefits for vulnerable or unrepresented parties.
Mediation has long played an important role in resolving family law matters. Recent amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) take this one step further: attendance at family dispute resolution is now effectively a compulsory prefiling requirement in family matters concerning children. A range of merits have been claimed for alternative dispute resolution in the area of family law. Prominent among these is the notion that mediation provides a more flexible and less confrontational environment for dispute resolution than the courtroom, with corresponding benefits for vulnerable or unrepresented parties.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 97-122 |
| Journal | The Australian Feminist Law Journal |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |