Be it divorce, property settlement, child custody, alimony or any other family law matter, a common myth about Australia's family law system is that all disputes involving family relationships must go to court. Far from it, family law courts in the country encourage families to use the family dispute resolution (FDR) framework to settle squabbles out of court whenever possible.  

Read along to find out some of the great advantages that are associated with FDR.

FDR Promotes Speedy Settlement of Family Disputes 

FDR is a mediation process that involves identifying and discussing the issues in dispute and then exploring possible ideas and options with the aim of reaching a consensus on some or all of the issues. In situations where a child is involved, the conflicting parties are encouraged to focus on the child's best interests.

The mediation process is conducted with the help of a neutral, third-party practitioner referred to as a mediator. Their ultimate goal is to determine the options that would work best for you and your situation. This helps parties agree on a mutually acceptable settlement. 

As FDR offers the freedom and flexibility to deal with any hurdles that may arise out of court, parties are likely to reach a settlement faster than they would if they went to court. This makes FDR an appealing option for parties that are keen on reaching a speedy settlement.

FDR Protects Family Privacy and Relationships

Court battles have the potential to ruin family relationships and units forever. When court proceedings are made public, they could expose the dark side of a family to the whole world.

FDR proceedings typically occur behind closed doors, thus ensuring that family disputes remain private and are kept out of the public limelight. This helps to protect family reputations while giving previously strained family relationships a chance to blossom again.

FDR Gives Families Control Over the Dispute Settlement Process

Conflicting family members love to be in control of the process used to determine how a dispute they're involved in will be settled. FDR provides them with exactly that – the power to be directly involved in the problem-solving process from start to finish. 

Since parties are actively involved in problem resolution, they're more likely to enforce the settlement.

Although FDR is a less formal legal action than the court process, it's still quite complex for the average person to navigate alone. Fortunately, anyone who needs professional help with navigating the murky waters of FDR can hire an FDR specialist to guide them through the process.