Overview of Out-of-Court
Family Dispute Resolution
Out-of-court Family Dispute Resolution comprises 4 Parts:
- Mediation
- Counselling - to prepare you for mediation (if required)
- Family Legal Advice Service (free legal advice explaining the ways you can resolve your parenting or guardianship dispute both in and out of the family court)
- Parenting Throught Separation Programme (free parenting and relationship programme).
1. Mediation
"Family Dispute Resolution" mediation is a mediation service that operates outside the Family Court.
People wishing to resolve non-urgent parenting or guardianship disputes about the care of their children are required to attempt to resolve the dispute by agreement via mediation, before they make an application to the Family Court.
2. Counselling
Up to three hours of funded counselling is available as part of the out-of-court Family Dispute Resolution process (if required). This is not relationship counselling but rather individual (or joint) counselling aimed at preparing people for mediation.
Counselling is not an automatic step in the system. The Family Dispute Resolution provider will make the decision regarding whether or not "preparatory counselling" is needed before a person attends mediation.
People who qualify for the free Family Legal Advice Service, will also qualify for free counselling in the Family Dispute Resolution process.
3. Family Legal Advice Service
The Family Legal Advice Service provides a limited amount of free legal advice from a family lawyer who is an accredited Family Legal Advice Service provider.
This service is available to people attempting to resolve parenting or guardianship disputes about children. This service operates outside the family court.
The “Family Legal Advice Service” is provided in two separate parts. Click here for full details.
Call 625-2044 or 021-210-0930 to make an appoinment with Family Legal Advice Service lawyer Antoinette Vujnovich
4. Parenting Through Separation
Programme
This four hour course is available free of charge to you and is run by providers in your local area.
Attending the Parenting Through Separation Programme will increase your understanding of how separation affects children. The programme will also increase your understanding of the out-of-court Family Dispute Resolution process and the Family Court.
Click here for full details.
Contact Family Lawyer
Antoinette Vujnovich
m: 021 210 0930
e: info@edenfamilylaw.co.nz
Available by appointment at 102 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland.