Property Proposal Preparation
Have a property settlement proposal you would like to put to your former partner?
Northern Frontiers provides an affordable and confidential Property Proposal Preparation service for separated people who would like assistance developing a clear and structured proposal for resolving their property and financial matters.
This individual service allows you to meet privately with an experienced Property Mediator and accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner to identify the relevant property and financial issues, consider the property pool and develop a Property Agreement Proposal for the other party to consider.
The service can be particularly useful where:
- you already have ideas about how you would like the property settlement resolved
- you need assistance organising those ideas into a clear proposal
- you want to reduce legal advice expense by having a clear initial summary of the property pool prior to meeting with a lawyer
- direct discussions with your former partner have become difficult
- the other party is currently unwilling to participate in mediation
- you would like to make a constructive proposal before commencing Court proceedings
- you would like a structured starting point for future negotiation or Property Mediation.
The service is available Australia-wide by telephone or video, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom and FaceTime.
What can be included in a Property Agreement Proposal?
Your proposal can address the property and financial matters relevant to your circumstances, including:
- the family home and investment properties
- mortgages and other property-related liabilities
- bank accounts and savings
- superannuation interests
- shares and investments
- motor vehicles, boats and other assets
- business or company interests
- trust interests and other financial resources
- credit cards, personal loans and other debts
- personal property and significant household items
- companion animals where relevant
- sale, transfer or refinancing of property
- practical actions and proposed timeframes for implementing a settlement.
Your practitioner will help you organise the issues and develop a proposal that clearly sets out the outcome you would like the other party to consider.
Benefits of Property Proposal Preparation
Develop a Clear, Structured Proposal
Work through your property and financial issues with an experienced practitioner and turn your ideas into a structured proposal for the other party to consider.
Create a Starting Point for Negotiation
A well-prepared proposal can focus discussions on possible solutions rather than allowing negotiations to become stalled or unfocused.
Reduce Unnecessary Conflict
Presenting a considered written proposal may provide a more constructive starting point than repeated informal discussions, messages or disagreements.
Potentially Save Time and Legal Costs
Resolving some or all property issues through negotiation or mediation may reduce the matters that later require extensive legal correspondence or Court determination.
Prepare for Property Mediation
If the other party subsequently agrees to mediate, your Property Agreement Proposal can provide a useful starting point for the Property Mediation process.
Do I need information about the property pool?
A meaningful property proposal should be based on a reasonable understanding of the property, assets, liabilities, superannuation interests and financial resources relevant to the parties.
Financial disclosure is an important part of family law property matters, particularly where parties are preparing for Court proceedings.
Northern Frontiers can help you identify the categories of information that may be relevant to preparing your proposal, but we do not provide legal, taxation, accounting or financial advice.
Is Property Proposal Preparation the same as Property Mediation?
No. Property Proposal Preparation is an individual service involving one party.
Property Mediation is a dispute resolution process involving both parties and an impartial Mediator who assists them to discuss the issues, exchange proposals and explore whether agreement can be reached.
If the other party is willing to participate in mediation, please see our Property & Financial Mediation service.
Your Property Agreement Proposal can also provide a useful starting point if the other party later agrees to mediate.
Is a Property Agreement Proposal legally binding?
No. A Property Agreement Proposal prepared through this service is a proposal for the other party to consider. It does not itself create a legally binding property settlement.
If the other party accepts the proposal, or agreement is subsequently reached through negotiation or mediation, both parties should obtain independent legal advice about formally documenting the settlement.
Depending on the circumstances, an agreed property settlement may be formalised through Consent Orders or a Financial Agreement.
Northern Frontiers does not prepare Consent Orders or Financial Agreements and does not provide legal advice.
Property Proposal Preparation – Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after my Property Agreement Proposal is prepared?
Your Property Agreement Proposal can be provided to the other party for consideration, either directly or through legal representatives.
The other party may accept the proposal, make a counter-proposal, seek further information, obtain legal advice or indicate that they would like to negotiate further.
If both parties become willing to participate in mediation, you can move into our Property & Financial Mediation process.
What if the other party rejects my proposal?
A Property Agreement Proposal cannot require the other party to accept a particular settlement.
If agreement cannot be reached directly, Property Mediation may provide an opportunity for both parties to discuss their positions with the assistance of an impartial Mediator.
If the other party does not wish to mediate, you should obtain independent family law advice about the options available to you and any applicable pre-action requirements.
Do we have to provide financial disclosure?
Financial disclosure is an important part of resolving property and financial matters following separation.
If separated parties are preparing for property proceedings, the Family Law Act imposes duties to provide full and frank disclosure, in a timely manner, of information and documents relevant to the financial and property issues in dispute.
Even where Court proceedings are not presently contemplated, having accurate information about the property pool can help both parties assess and respond meaningfully to settlement proposals.
Northern Frontiers does not determine whether disclosure is legally complete. Independent legal advice should be obtained about your particular disclosure obligations.
Can a lawyer review my Property Agreement Proposal?
Yes. We encourage clients to obtain independent family law advice where appropriate.
A lawyer can advise you about your legal rights and obligations, the proposed division of property, any taxation or implementation issues requiring specialist advice, and how any eventual agreement should be formally documented.
What if I also have parenting matters?
Northern Frontiers also provides a Parenting Proposal Preparation service where you would like assistance developing proposed parenting arrangements.
If both parties are willing to participate in Family Dispute Resolution, please see our Parenting Mediation & Family Dispute Resolution service.
Do I receive the Property Mediation Preparation Guide?
Yes. Clients using the Property Proposal Preparation service receive a copy of our Property Mediation Preparation Guide.
The Guide can assist you to organise information and prepare for property negotiations. Topics include:
- financial and property checklist
- identifying assets
- identifying liabilities
- additional property and personal items
- preparing for legal and financial advice
- preparing a Property Agreement Proposal
- practical actions that may be required to implement an agreement.
How much does Property Proposal Preparation cost?
See current Property Proposal Preparation pricing for the standard session fee. Longer sessions can be arranged where required.
How soon can I get started?
Appointments are available from 7.30am weekdays, with out-of-hours appointments available on a case-by-case basis.
Sessions are available Australia-wide by telephone or video, so you do not need to travel to participate.
Important information
Northern Frontiers provides mediation, Family Dispute Resolution and proposal preparation services. We do not provide legal, financial, taxation or accounting advice.
A Property Agreement Proposal is not a Court order, Consent Order or Financial Agreement and is not legally binding simply because it has been prepared through this service.
We encourage clients to obtain independent legal advice about their property settlement, particularly before accepting or entering into any final agreement.
Please also review our Terms & Conditions of Service.
Ready to develop your Property Proposal?
Contact Reception for a confidential enquiry. There is no obligation to make a booking.
Call: 1300 90 81 70
Text: 0419 531 269
Email: reception@northernfrontiers.com.au
You can also contact us online or use the online chat function on this website.
Contact Northern Frontiers
Contact our Reception team to confidentially discuss your situation or find out more about any of our services.
There is no obligation to make a booking. If you are simply researching your options or are unsure which service is right for you, we are happy to answer your questions.
Northern Frontiers provides mediation and behavioural awareness programs Australia-wide by phone and video.
Call: 1300 90 81 70
Text or call: 0419 531 269
Email: reception@northernfrontiers.com.au
You can also send us a message using the enquiry form or use the online chat function on this webpage. Your enquiry will be treated confidentially. Please do not include highly sensitive information in the enquiry form.
Phone
1300 90 81 70
Mobile: 0419 531 269 (text or call)
LiveChat: If you have any questions about our services and don't have time to ring or email, feel free to use the online chat function (bottom right of this page).
Reception Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 7.30 am – 8.00 pm. Last-minute sessions available for urgent matters. Text message 0419 531 269 for the fastest response.