Accredited mediator
helping couples reach amicable solutions
Welcome to FHL Divorce Mediation. I am a SAAM and NABFAM accredited Mediator.
Welcome to FHL Divorce Mediation. I am a SAAM and NABFAM accredited Mediator.
Divorce mediation is a process that allows divorcing couples to meet with a specially-trained, neutral third-party to discuss and resolve common divorce-related issues.
Mediation is typically less stressful and less expensive than a divorce trial, and it usually proceeds much faster.
Because you and your spouse have the final say over your divorce matters, mediation also allows couples to maintain the power and control in their divorce, as opposed to asking a judge to decide.
Mediation is very cost effective and much more affordable than litigation.
The parties have total control over the best outcome for them, where as a judge decide on the outcome in a litigation case.
The mediation process is fairly short compared to a long drawn out court case.
The parties may at any stage withdraw from the mediation process.
The mediation process mitigate the pscyhological trauma of a divorce in a court room.
Mediation process facilitates the process for parties to have an amicable relationship in future after the divorce.
Parties agree to enter voluntary ( unless ordered by the court) to the mediation process.
Both parties have equal opportunities to state their cases and to conclude an outcome best suited for everyone involved – including children.
The mediator acts as a facilitator of the process and does not take “sides” nor decide on the outcome.
The best interest of the children involved must be at the core of all decisions being made.
The final divorce agreement is lodged at the court after which a summons is served and thereafter a court date.
Please contact me for fees on any of the below
What happens when one parent moves out, leaving the other parent with the children during divorce proceedings? Often, the custodial parent needs interim financial support while the divorce is pending, which can take months or even years. During this time, the children have financial needs that one parent may struggle to meet alone.
To request interim maintenance (Rule 43 in high court and Rule 58 in regional courts in Gauteng), both parties must complete a Financial Disclosure Form (FDF) as required by the court. The applicant fills out the form first, and then the responding party does the same. The court uses this information to determine an appropriate maintenance amount based on both parents’ financial capabilities.
The FDF provides a snapshot of each party’s financial situation at a specific moment, including assets, liabilities, income from the last 12 months, expected income for the next 12 months, and all expenses, especially those related to the children.
Completing the FDF can be time-consuming for attorneys (sometimes not justifying their fees), and clients may lack the expertise to fill it out accurately. If you need expert and cost-effective assistance with completing the FDF, contact FHL today.
Effective from June 2025, a new protocol has been introduced in the High Courts of Gauteng (Pretoria & Johannesburg) requiring that all civil cases — including divorces and family law matters — must first go through mediation before a court date can be set. This makes mediation not just an option, but a compulsory first step in the divorce process.
Here’s what this means for you:
Only mediators who meet the High Court’s strict requirements can conduct these court-annexed mediations, and they are listed on the official ADR directory.
Stella Coetzee is a registered mediator for this new protocol, ensuring that your mediation is recognised by the High Courts. You can view her official listing here: Stella Coetzee – Registered Mediator
By choosing mediation with a registered professional, you not only comply with the High Court’s new rules, but you also gain a faster, less stressful, and more affordable way to resolve your divorce or family law matter.