LAQ Property Arbitration Program

LAQ Property Arbitration Program – how can it help me?

Property arbitration uses an independent third person to help resolve a dispute.

LAQ (Legal Aid Queensland) Property Arbitration Program can help you and your ex-partner come to a fair agreement to divide your property and finances after a separation or divorce.

Property arbitration can also save you time and money rather than going through the Family Law Courts. The LAQ program is carried out by experienced and qualified family lawyers who have specialist training in arbitration. Decisions are made in line with current Family Law Courts practices so they will be similar to, if not the same as, decisions made by the Family Law Courts.

Am I eligible for the property arbitration program?

You and your ex-partner can use our program if you:

• were in a defacto relationship and separated within the last two years, or
• were married but are now separated, or
• were divorced within the last twelve months and you:
• meet Legal Aid Queensland’s means test
• have property with a total net equity (value of property minus any debts owing) of between $20,000 and $400,000
• are willing to follow an arbitrator’s decision
• cannot resolve a property dispute without the help of a qualified third person
• have agreed to where your children will live.

How much will property arbitration cost?

Once your property arbitration has settled, you will get a notice telling you how much you need to pay LAQ back. This amount usually includes your lawyer’s fees and half of any outlays we have paid for. Your ex-partner will also pay their lawyer’s fees and the other half of our outlays.

Your arbitration costs will not be more than 20 percent of your property settlement’s dollar value. Usually the amount is far less.

LAQ pays a much lower fee to lawyers than they usually charge, so your costs will be far less than if you were a private client.

“Property arbitration aims to allocate property fairly after a separation or divorce.”

How does property arbitration work?

The property arbitration process follows these steps:

1. You or your ex-partner (the applicant) lodges a Legal aid application form with LAQ, asking for help with a property settlement. You can download the application form from our website or call us on 1300 65 11 88 for the cost of a local call.
2. LAQ review the application to decide if you pass the means and merit tests. If you meet LAQ’s requirements, LAQ will approve aid for property arbitration.
3. LAQ send the other person (the respondent) a Legal aid application form and a Consent to arbitrate form.
4. If the other person agrees to take part in property arbitration, they complete both forms and send them back to LAQ. Both people must agree to take part in property arbitration. If one person does not agree, LAQ will reassess the application to see if another form of aid can be provided to help settle your property dispute. If one person does not pass the means and merit tests and cannot receive aid, they can pay for a private lawyer. Under the Family Law Act 1975 both people in property arbitration must be represented by a lawyer. To be eligible for LAQ Property Arbitration Program at least one of you must qualify for legal aid.
5. LAQ send you and your ex-partner an arbitration pack and assign a lawyer to people with aid approved. The arbitration pack includes an Arbitration statement that asks for information about:
   • your financial situation
   • property owned by you and your ex-partner separately and/or together at the start of your relationship, at separation and when applying for property arbitration
   • other information relevant to deciding property issues, as set out by the Family Law Act.
6. You and your ex-partner complete the documents in the arbitration pack and send them back to LAQ.
7. LAQ gives the documents to both you and your ex-partner so you are aware of what is being said and proposed by the other person.
8. If either of you wants to respond to the information provided by the other person, they can complete a Response document and send this to LAQ. The Response document is included in the arbitration pack. You can also indicate on the response document whether you would like your solicitor to make oral submissions on your behalf after all the information has been provided to the arbitrator.
9. We send all documents and information to the arbitrator.
10. If the arbitrator needs more information before making a decision, LAQ will ask for this extra information through your lawyer. Your lawyer will then make verbal submissions to the arbitrator directly about your case.
11. The arbitrator makes their decision within 28 days of receiving the information and hearing any verbal submissions.
12. The arbitrator’s decision may be lodged with the Family Law Courts, making it legally enforceable.

“After our divorce, my ex threatened to take everything we worked so hard for. Using an arbitrator meant our property was split fairly and I could move on with my life sooner.”

Is LAQ help confidential?

Yes. LAQ services are confidential and LAQ are committed to protecting clients’ privacy. LAQ will not provide your personal information or details about your property arbitration to anyone, unless LAQ are legally required to.