- 4.7 ⭐ 150+ Reviews
Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Central Coast
Separation, parenting arrangements and property settlements, handled by solicitors who will tell you honestly what is worth fighting over and what is not.
- Parenting, property, divorce and mediation under one roof
- Experience with family violence and coercive control matters
- Toukley and Erina offices, members of the NSW Law Society Professional Standards Scheme
Family Law Mediation Support Across the Central Coast
Ryan & Ryan is a family-run Central Coast law firm with offices in Toukley and Erina. We prepare separated parents and partners for mediation and support them through it, then turn the agreement into something legally binding. We work with clients across the Coast in person, or by phone, Zoom or Teams.
For parenting disputes, you generally must attempt Family Dispute Resolution before applying to the Court, unless an exemption applies, such as family violence or urgency. Mediation isn’t compulsory for property matters, but it is usually worth trying first. It costs far less than a contested hearing, and people tend to keep to arrangements they helped build. It only works if you go in knowing your legal position, though.
We advise you beforehand on what a realistic outcome looks like. We also check whether mediation is safe where there has been family violence or coercive control. Once you reach agreement, we formalise it through Consent Orders, a Parenting Plan or a Binding Financial Agreement. If mediation doesn’t resolve things, we represent you at Court.
Why Central Coast Families
Choose Us for Mediation
You get straight answers. If your expectations going into mediation are unrealistic, we’ll say so early, while it still costs you nothing to adjust. Lawyers who tell clients only what they want to hear are expensive company.
We take family violence seriously and understand coercive control doesn’t always look dramatic from the outside, Krystal Johnson brings that awareness to assessing whether mediation is even appropriate for your situation.
And once an agreement is reached, we handle formalising it too, Consent Orders, a Parenting Plan, or a Binding Financial Agreement, without sending you elsewhere for the paperwork.
How Mediation Works With Us
1. Get in touch
Call (02) 4397 1500 or book a time. Tell us what's unresolved, parenting, property, or both.
2. First consultation
We assess whether FDR is required, whether mediation is appropriate given your circumstances, and what a workable outcome might look like.
3. A clear plan and price
You get a realistic view of the mediation process, likely timeframe, and cost, before anything is booked.
4. We get it done
We prepare you for mediation, support you through it, and formalise any agreement reached through Consent Orders or a Parenting Plan.
Mediation & Alternative Dispute
Resolution Across the Central Coast
We run family law matters from two offices, Toukley for the northern Coast and Erina for the south, and we meet by phone, Zoom or Teams when getting in is hard. Where mediation doesn’t resolve a matter, we appear at the Wyong, Gosford and Woy Woy Local Courts and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
What Our Clients Say
Reviews from clients we’ve acted for across family, estate, property and business matters.
Mediation & ADR FAQs
For parenting matters, yes, in most cases you must attend FDR before applying to the Family Court, unless an exemption applies (for example, family violence, urgency, or risk to a child). Property matters don’t have the same requirement, though mediation is still strongly encouraged.
Mediation works best when both parties engage genuinely, but a refusal to attend FDR without a valid reason can itself become relevant if the matter later goes to court. We can advise on the right next step if the other party isn’t willing to participate.
Not on its own, mediation produces an agreement, not a court order. To make the outcome enforceable, it’s usually formalised afterwards through Consent Orders or a Parenting Plan/Binding Financial Agreement, depending on what was resolved.
You’re not required to, but having advice beforehand on your legal position, and afterwards to formalise any agreement properly, protects you either way. We support clients through the process rather than replacing the mediator’s role.
Talk to a Central Coast family lawyer about resolving your matter without court.
Most matters we run are settled through mediation, the first conversation will tell you whether yours is likely to be one of them.