Preparing Clients for Pre-filing Mediation of Property Matters

Enabling accountants to ensure their clients are effectively prepared for a Family Law Property mediation without or before proceeding to the Federal Circuit and Family Court

Accountants are often asked by their clients to help them to compile much of the documentation that is needed before and during the negotiation of a Family Law Property Settlement.  Many clients are uncertain why they have been asked by their lawyers (or their ex-partner’s lawyer) to compile this information.  It is important that accountants understand the reasons why this information is sought and what function it serves during the negotiation process.

This knowledge helps accountants to reassure their clients where the requests for information are appropriate and also ensure their client has all the information they need ready to engage constructively with the negotiation process from the outset.

Understanding how this information is used, also assists accountants to give their client relevant financial and taxation advice regarding the implications of the proposed settlement outcomes their clients are seeking.

In this session we will focus on the knowledge needed to:

• support your clients to compile the information needed when preparing to participate in a pre-filing Family Law Property mediation
• support your client to engage in the negotiation with clarity regarding their financial and non-financial contributions and future financial needs
• support your client to engage in the negotiation with clarity regarding their future financial and relational goals post separation 
• support your client to thoroughly consider the relevant financial and taxation implications of the settlement outcomes they are seeking, prior to participation in mediation.

This session will provide an overview of the key information you need to know to help you to ensure your clients are appropriately prepared for participation in mediation. 

Learning Outcomes:

You will gain an understanding of:

• Family Law legal principles that inform the Federal Circuit and Family Court’s decision regarding what is a ‘just and equitable’ settlement
• The process that mediators typically use to guide parties through a pre-filing mediation (ie prior to the parties making an application to the Court) when negotiating settlement of their Family Law Property matters
• The details of what information typically needs to be shared when clarifying the asset pool 
• How to support your clients to capture an understanding of their financial and non-financial contributions to the asset pool, before and during their relationship and since the date of separation
• How to support your clients to reflect on their likely future financial needs
• How the underlying interests of each party and their relational goals are likely to affect their approach to the negotiation
• Types of agreements and Child Support arrangements
• The importance of encouraging your clients to seek Family Law legal advice.

Suited to:

All accounts who work with clients who are seeking to resolve their Family Law Property disputes through mediation without or before proceeding to Court. 

This On Demand includes: 

• a recording of the webinar Event which can be viewed multiple times
• a PDF of the presenter’s PowerPoint
• a verbatim Transcript
• any supporting documentation
• a CPD Certificate after successful completion of the Knowledge Quiz