Family Dispute Resolution is a process where the FDR Practitioner helps people affected or likely to be affected by separation or divorce to resolve some or all of their disputes with each other. That means disputes related to property and finances as well as to children. FDR is about helping people have difficult conversations with each other around issues important to them, with the goal of reaching agreements they can live with. Family dispute Resolution Practitioners (FDRPs) are trained family mediators who are neutral, independent and objective. They don't make decisions but rather help separated people discuss and propose solutions around property division and parenting. FDRPs are also able to issue relevant paperwork (s60I certificates) required to initiate court proceedings.
Committed couples can sometimes need a way to talk about prickly issues without the need for therapy. Couples can communicate in an amicable way with a mediator facilitating difficult topics where individuals come to their own agreements about a better way forward.
Mediation is nurturing of the relationship of former partners into a co-parenting team - a role parents have for life. It’s not easy to commit to deeper thinking around discussing, exploring and negotiating problems but for parents who can strive to arrive at mutual solutions between each other in the best interests of the children, life can more quickly return to a healthier equilibrium navigating a new version of family life for everyone. Finding effective solutions for co-parenting can be daunting but mediation allows space to discuss and arrive at possible parenting plans that address all the issues important to both parents, keeping the best interests of any children of the relationship front and centre.