Family dispute resolution can help people affected by separation and divorce sort out their dispute as an alternative to going to court.
A family dispute resolution practitioner is an independent person who can help people discuss issues, look at options and work out how best to reach agreement in disputes about children, property or money.
If people resolve their differences without going to court they will save themselves time, money and stress.
The law requires separating families who have a dispute about parenting arrangements to make a genuine effort to resolve that dispute by family dispute resolution before applying to a court. If after attempting family dispute resolution, an individual still wants to go to court, they will need a certificate from an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner.
There are some exceptions to this requirement, such as urgent cases, or situations involving family violence or child abuse.
Further Information
Family dispute resolution practitioners can find useful information by following these links:
Please note: The information on these pages is unlikely to be relevant for the general public. For information about services and advice for families, please visit the Family Dispute Resolution page on Family Relationships Online.