Do I have to see my ex-partner at mediation?
I am happy to go to family dispute resolution but I am scared of my ex-partner and do not want to sit in the same room. Do I have to?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Pearl Beaumont, Penrith 2570 NSW
- You should discuss your concerns with your lawyer and your mediator.
- To satisfy the court you will need to go to a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) who can issue the relevant certificate to the court to prove that you participated in this process. FDRPs are professionals who have been specially trained to manage situations like yours.
- They should make sure you know that you can have a support person with you and a lawyer to advise you if that is what you want.
- You can have a ‘shuttle’ style mediation where the mediator will speak to you both separately and carry your messages to your ex-partner and vice versa. You will not have to be in the same room as your ex-partner at any time.