Coaching and Support Process - Family Dispute Support Services

Coaching & Support Services Guidelines

The following information explains the steps and procedures of how we work with FDSS registered members. We can guide you through the best available practices and resolution options, whether in or out of the Family Court. Additionally, we can assist you in understanding the family court processes, which are publicly available. It is your responsibility to decide whether to accept or reject the public information we provide.

We have helped hundreds of families through this process – feel free to check some of the success stories on this link

How Does it work ?

Coaching & Support

We are unable to tell you what to do and what you should/must do - we can help you with your decision-making process. We are unable to represent you or speak on your behalf during court events, unless a judge allows us to do so. We can't settle on your behalf.

Legal Information

We can point out at the public legal information relevant to your situation & case and explain them to you. It is up to you to use these information.

Forms & Templates

We can direct you to the online prescribed forms & templates relevant to your case

Drafting Documents

Drafting any documents is your responsibility. Let us know when your draft is ready for review.

Reviewing Documents

We can review your drafts completed forms or document. We might suggest some edits or amendments, if needed.

Revising Documents

Revising the document/s is your responsibility. We can suggest some information or provide you with some information or case law. You are able to delete/amend/ reject or accept any of the suggested information.

Filing & Service

We will guide you about the process of filing documents in the court according to the Family Court rules & how to serve them on other parties.

Correspondence Review

We can review the emails /letters/ communications with other parties & the court registry. You need to draft the letters/emails and we will review them if needed.

Support in Hearings

We can attend court events with you as McKenzie Friend / Support Person. Check what McKenzie Friend can do.

Court Events

We will explain to you what happens in court hearings & conferences & the preparations associated

Important notes 1 - Any deadlines / important event dates in your case is your responsibility. If you wish us to be aware about any events or deadlines- please create a reminder on your online calendar and send your coach notification
2 - If we agree to attend any hearing or court event with you. We need at least two weeks notice in advance.
3 - Managing your case is your responsibility. Our coaches will guide you and support you through the process.
4 - Our coaches are often busy with many urgent cases, so you need to give us some time to deal with your enquiry. Our coaches will assess the urgency of your enquiry and let you know.
5 - We do not do chat over text messages, unless agreed by your coach.
6 - If you want us to attend court hearings or any court events with you, you need to seek a leave from the court and other parties involved. You will need to file an application notifying all parties involved. Please allow at least two weeks notice in advance .
7 - We are able to attend any court teleconferences / Roundtable meetings over the zoom with you. Please allow at least two weeks notice in advance
8 - It is very important to keep us updated with any correspondences with lawyers or other parties or new applications / amendments to any existing orders. Updating the online chronological list of events document is your responsibility. You CC or BCC your coach in any email correspondence.

Steps following your agreement to the Terms of Engagement:

Your participation in the workshops is important to help you understand the Family Court processes. Check the Workshops calendar

We will send you the login details to access FDSS Knowledge Base Portal
One of our coaches will create and share an online private folder using Microsoft OneDrive Personal Cloud Storage. You must upload any documents relevant to your case to the particular folder. The folder would be password protected. Make sure you bookmark or store the link and password in a safe place. Do not share the link with any person because it contains your personal private documents.
Within your Cloud folder a blank online template would be available to update your case chronological list of events (about all courts events/dates/incidents). The list needs to be updated by you continuously not our coaches.
Keep us updated in all correspondence with lawyers /court and other parties (include us BCC/CC in all correspondence ) or forward the emails/letters to us.
Send us any documents/emails through email support@fdss.org.nz but it is preferable to add them to your cloud folder.
If you wish to speak with us. You can send your coach an email or text message to arrange an appointment. Your coach will respond to your email / text message depending on his/her availability and the urgency of the matter. Phone calls and chats are only by appointments.
Be mindful that our coaches do not do chat over text messages.
It is your responsibility to monitor the prescribed deadlines for filing or responding / dates of court events.
For any upcoming court events – you can create an event on your calendar and add your coach email to your online calendar.

Drafting documents or completing forms:

The majority of the forms and templates/guides available on our online Knowledge Base Portal or you can ask us if you are not sure.
Download the required template from the online Knowledge Base Portal on your computer. Read the comments on the template / form.
Upload it to your Microsoft One Drive folder and add/share admin@fdss.org.nz as “editor”/ right to view/edit
Start drafting the document or form and note down all relevant information
Let us know when your draft is ready to be reviewed – (leave a comment on the shared document (right click on any of the document contents and choose “comment”)
We will review it
After we review your draft, we will leave a comment that of the review is done. You will be able to see the suggested edits and amendments – revise your draft , delete or resolve the suggests if needed.
Subsequently, you can download the document as PDF on your computer (file tab >download as PDF) on your computer.
Follow the prescribed rules on how to file the document/s on this link.
Please allow us up to 5 working days to review your documents. We will assess the urgency of your request.

Processes Guidelines and Fees

FDSS – Family Disputes Support Services is a not for profit community organisation powered and funded by generous donors