When it comes to resolving disputes, many individuals automatically assume that litigation is their only option. However, mediation offers a more cost-effective and efficient alternative that can save you time, money, and emotional stress… not to mention, you can avoid having to go to court.
At Rowland Mediation, we understand the financial burden that legal proceedings can place on parties. That’s why we have designed our fee structure to be transparent and affordable, ensuring that you can access the support you need without the financial pressure that often goes with litigation.
Fee Structure
For most mediation services, we offer a basic, easy to understand fee structure – most often, the costs will be split between the parties in mediation, and so we’ve indicated a per-party cost:
- Intake: $200 per party
- Mediation Sessions – Hourly Rate: $200 per party
- Mediation Sessions – Day Rates: $1,400 per party
Included in any mediation is facilitated discussion to resolve your dispute and drafting a heads of agreement if you’re able to reach agreement.
Additional Fees: Some services may incur additional cost, for example:
- Drafting of Parenting Plans – takes expert knowledge and time. If you reach an in-principle agreement during mediation, we can help you to draft a parenting plan covering your agreement – fees may apply depending on complexity.
- Venue hire – for in person mediations, if you are unable to provide a suitable venue, we can source an appropriate venue that’s convenient for the parties, and we will simply pass on the cost with no mark-up.
- Payment fees – if you choose to pay for your services using a credit or debit card, you may incur a small surcharge (something in the order of 1.4%) to cover the costs of payment processing. Payment via Pay ID, bank transfer etc. will not incur any surcharge
- GST – at the time of writing we do not charge GST for our services. If this changes, we will update our fee structure accordingly.
Fixed Fee Services: As we develop new services, we may offer fixed-fee services going forward. It is anticipated that if we acquire FDRP status as planned, we will offer both fixed-fee packages and custom packages for FDR services.
Note: We offer different fees for particular statutory schemes (such as NSW Farm Debt Mediation and Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman mediation panels).
Fee Payment Options
We’re happy to work with our customers to offer the best payment options for your circumstances.
We will issue an invoice for your services which typically must be paid before the session goes ahead. You will be able to pay by:
- Bank Deposit
- Credit Cards (Mastercard, Visa, Apple Wallet or Google Pay) – a small surcharge may apply
- Pay in Person – if you are attending a session face to face, we can take card payments on the day with a small surcharge
- PayPal Pay in 4 – if you need to spread the cost of mediation sessions out over six weeks you can. PayPal will charge an up front payment equivalent to a quarter of the invoice total, and the balance will be paid off in three equal installments over the following six weeks.
Intake Sessions
Intake sessions are typically required as a pre-mediation step for each party. These sessions are useful for explaining the process, identifying issues, and assessing suitability before a joint session. These may be optional for some mediation types, and required for others.
Your intake session typically includes:
- Thorough assessment of whether your case is suitable for mediation
- All attempts to invite and engage the other party in the process (if they are not already)
- Detailed advice on how best to prepare for mediation
Your mediator will advise you if these are required when you make an enquiry.
Mediation Sessions
The duration of your mediation session(s) will largely depend on the issues to be discussed and their complexity. Some simple matters may be resolved in two to two and a half hours. More complex mediations will usually be booked for four hours, which includes time for a break in the middle, drafting an agreement and the sessions themselves.
Why Choose Mediation?
When compared to the costs of litigation, which can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars, mediation offers a much more affordable option. Not only will you save money on legal fees, but you will also avoid the lengthy and emotionally draining process of going to court.
In addition to being more cost-effective, mediation is also a faster and more efficient process than litigation. While court proceedings can drag on for months or even years, mediation resolves issues promptly. At Rowland Mediation, we have a high success rate resolving disputes without the need for a trial.
The Cost of Litigation
Put bluntly, consider these costs of going to court:
- For the preparation and first court date alone, you may pay between $6,500 to $12,000 each, not taking into consideration the court fees.
- You will or may have already spent a substantial amount on legal fees.
- The average time it will take to get your matter to court is close to 3 years, during which you will continue to pay legal fees of between $350 – $800 per hour.
- During this time, consistent with a plethora of research, you will struggle to move forward with your life, relationships will be damaged, and the stress will impact your well-being.
Resolve Your Dispute Now. You’re one step closer to resolving your dispute without excessive legal fees and in a fraction of the time.