Practitioners: Christopher Cocks, Rebecca McDougal
Rebecca McDougal	email Rebecca: rebecca@strathlaw.com

Rebecca offers a general law practice servicing the diverse law needs of the region. Her practice areas include advice and representation in: family law including property settlements, children's matters and mediation; divorce; civil claims; police matters; traffic matters; wills & estates; property; commercial; partnerships and meeting the needs of the rural community.

Complimenting her law practice Rebecca also offers a Mediation service and Family Dispute Resolution Service. Rebecca is a qualified mediator and experienced Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Rebecca has practised law in the region for seven years including four years in Strathalbyn and three years in Mount Barker. Rebecca lives locally with her two teenage children.

Family Dispute Resolution (Mediation)

Many separated parents are able to reach agreement between themselves as to the post separation arrangements they want in place for their children. Where parents are able to amicably reach agreement there is no legal requirement that parents put down their agreement in writing. Parents may however, want a record of their agreement. If this is the case parents have the choice of documenting their agreement in a parenting plan or in consent minutes of order which are filed in the Family Court of Australia.

For those parents who are having difficulty in reaching an agreement or who are clearly in dispute about the arrangements for their children, but who wish to avoid litigation, they may now access a Family Dispute Resolution Service. Indeed, the Family Law Act, (C'th) 1975 now requires separating parents (in most circumstances) to attempt Family Dispute Resolution (Mediation).

Rebecca is a Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and conducts a Family Dispute Resolution Service from Strathalbyn Law & Mediation.

Some disputes between parents are not appropriate to mediate and in these circumstances the Family Law Act provides that the matter is exempt from the requirement to first attempt Family Dispute Resolution. Types of matters that are exempt from Family Dispute Resolution includes matters where a party to the dispute may not have the capacity to participate in mediation effectively; where the matters is urgent; where the relationship has been affected by family violence or where an allegation has been made that a child has been abused or may be at risk of abuse.

Rebecca is qualified to make an assessment as to the whether a dispute is appropriate to mediate, to issue Certificates pursuant to Section 60I of the Family Law Act and/or to conduct Family Dispute Resolution.

Fees apply to both parties to the Family Dispute Resolution process including the Intake and Assessment stage.