Your Advocate Lawyers

20/08/2024

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners –
What are they? What do they do?

Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is mediation designed to help separating parties reach their own agreements (without court intervention) to resolve parenting and financial disputes. FDR is designed to encourage frank conversations to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. What is said during FDR is confidential, and can’t be used in court or shared outside of FDR.
A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) is a specially qualified mediator. They’re a neutral person who doesn’t represent an individual but assists both parties in speaking with each other, enabling people to openly discuss and clarify their dispute. A FDRP doesn’t represent either party or provide legal advice but can offer general legal information to help reach a fair agreement.
To become a FDRP a mediator must be trained in either law, psychology, social work or conflict management.
FDR can be undertaken in person or via Zoom or Microsoft teams.
You can participate in FDR with or without a lawyer but a lawyer doesn’t speak on your behalf during mediation and are present only to offer legal advice.
If FDR isn’t successful a FDRP may issue a ‘Section 60I certificate’. This allows you to commence court proceedings as the court can’t hear an application for parenting orders without this certificate.
Sam Ferguson is both a Family Law lawyer and a FDRP who can offer both services.
Contact us at on – 0402 114 939 or

Sam Ferguson is the dedicated principal and director of Your Advocate Lawyers, bringing over two decades of diverse experience to the legal field. Sam's journey began with a distinguished career as a New South Wales Police Officer, where she served as a detective in various specialised units, includ...

15/05/2024

CHILDREN (YOUNG OFFENDERS) AND THE LAW
If your child is in trouble with the law, facing a criminal or traffic offence - Your Advocate Lawyers are there to support both you and your child.
Under the law a person is considered a child if they are over the age of 10 and under 18. If your child is in trouble with the police a number of outcomes may occur. Your child might receive;
* an ‘infringement’ notice,
* a ‘warning’,
* a ‘caution’,
* a ‘conference’, or
* a ‘court attendance notice’ compelling them to attend court.
Receiving any of the above depends on a number of factors. Whether your child admits to the offence; the seriousness of the offence; if the offence is one for which a warning, caution or conference may be given; whether your child consents to the giving of a caution or participating in a conference and whether your child is entitled to be given a warning, caution or conference.
When considering whether a child is entitled to be dealt with by warning, caution or conference it is the investigating police officer and specialist police youth officer who determines if a matter is appropriate or if the offence is one for which a warning, caution or conference may be given.
Police take into consideration, (a) the seriousness of the offence, (b) the degree of violence involved in the offence, (c) the harm caused to any victim, (d) the number and nature of any offences committed by the child and the number of times the child has been dealt with under the Young Offenders Act and (e) any other matter the police think appropriate in the circumstances.
Criminal offences committed by a child under the age of 18 are generally dealt with in the Children’s Court, depending upon the nature and seriousness of the crime. If your child is old enough to hold a driver’s licence, traffic offences are generally dealt with in the Local Court along with adults. Court can be overwhelming for both your child and your family.
Your child’s legal interests must be represented when dealing with the police and the court system. Your Advocate Lawyers are there to assist you through this stressful time in order to ensure this event doesn’t have a long-lasting effect on your child’s future.

Sam Ferguson is the dedicated principal and director of Your Advocate Lawyers, bringing over two decades of diverse experience to the legal field. Sam's journey began with a distinguished career as a New South Wales Police Officer, where she served as a detective in various specialised units, includ...

10/05/2024

APPREHENDED VIOLENCE ORDERS
If you are in need of protection or facing an AVO, Your Advocate Lawyers are there.
A person seeking an AVO is known as the “complainant” whilst the person an order is sought against is the referred to as the “defendant”.

An apprehended domestic violence order is designed to safeguard individuals in a domestic relationship for example, a marriage, a de-facto relationship or a parent and a child. A personal violence order protects those not in such relationships, for example neighbours.
Your Advocate Lawyers can represent you in defending the making of an order. Having an AVO made against you doesn’t mean you have a criminal record, but other negative consequences can occur. An example of this is an impact on a working with children check or a revocation of a security or fi****ms licence, all have an effect on your livelihood.

Police generally apply for an AVO on someone’s behalf however if police refuse to apply for an order we can help. We can assist you navigate the application process through to attending court for a final hearing.

AVO’s can impose various types of conditions. Mandatory conditions stipulate a person can’t a) assault or threaten you b) stalk, harass or intimidate another and c)destroy or damage property. Other conditions can prohibit a person from approaching your house, prohibit drinking alcohol and/or not attending certain locations.

If an AVO is made against you and you breach that order, that is a crime.

If you need help navigating an Apprehended Violence Order contact us.

Sam Ferguson is the dedicated principal and director of Your Advocate Lawyers, bringing over two decades of diverse experience to the legal field. Sam's journey began with a distinguished career as a New South Wales Police Officer, where she served as a detective in various specialised units, includ...

23/04/2024

With a focus upon Criminal Law, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution - Your Advocate Lawyers will utilise a vast depth of knowledge and expertise to safeguard your legal interests.

Your Advocate Lawyers brings over two decades of diverse experience to the legal field. Our principal, Sam Ferguson's journey began with a distinguished career as a NSW Police Officer, serving as a detective in areas including the Child Protection and Arson Squads. Her extensive law enforcement background naturally transitioned into her roles as a prosecutor and lawyer.

Sam handled complex criminal matters with precision, ensuring justice was served in every case. She also served as an Advocate to the NSW Coroner, showcasing her commitment to protecting the community. As Your Advocate Lawyer, Sam goes the extra mile to secure the best possible legal results for her clients.

Witnessing firsthand the impact the intersection of Criminal and Family Law had on individuals and families, naturally drew her attention to Family Law and Dispute Resolution. Your Advocate Lawyers are dedicated to reducing the stress experienced at such a painful period of a person's life while achieving a positive outcome.

She is a member of the NSW Law Society, AIFLAM, and Family Law Section. Sam holds an impressive list of qualifications, including a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Policing (Investigation), and a Master of Laws (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner). She is accredited as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and admitted as a solicitor of both the NSW Supreme and High Courts of Australia.