Family Conciliation Services is a community-led initiative intended to assist separated whānau dealing with parental disputes. The service prioritises community involvement and cooperation. It offers a nurturing space for families to openly communicate and reach mutual resolutions, also seek suggestions and solutions.
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We promote unity, support, and open communication. Our approach is rooted in family values and community cooperation, empowering parents to navigate and overcome challenges together for the sake of their children.
Family conciliation is voluntary and confidential resolution process aimed to help separated whānau to resolve their parental disputes and conflicts about the care of their children arrangements, guardianship disputes and relationship property division.
The service follows a structured series of steps, including initial assessment, orientation, facilitated communication, negotiation, agreement documentation, and follow-ups. Meetings are convened over the telephone or via Audio & video meeting platform or in-person if possible.
The Ongoing Conflict Prevention service is an informal, quick, and cost effective way to resolve a parental disputes or a conflict amicably. The services is intended for separated whānau who consent to appoint FDSS as a third party to intervene in any future parental disputes. This proactive approach aims to prevent parental disputes from escalating to court litigation, ensuring a healthier and more constructive co-parenting dynamics between both the guardians.
Once both guardians sign up for this service, they will be able to contact FDSS to help them resolve any parental disputes that may arise in the future. Discussions and meetings will take place over telephone or audio and video platforms. It is mandatory that both guardians must consent to use this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Family Conciliation
The Family Conciliation Service is a community-led service. It is an informal, quick, and cost effective way to resolve a parental dispute or a conflict. A form of alternative or informal dispute resolution process.
Scenario 1:
- Mary and Jack, who recently separated, were in disagreement over their children's school. Mary sought assistance from FDSS, who recommended the Family Conciliation Service, an option both Mary and Jack accepted. They chose to conduct the conciliation over the phone, without joint meetings.
- After both Mary and Jack agreed to the engagement terms online, FDSS Coach Ben initiated the conciliation process by speaking separately with each parent.
- Despite participating in eight sessions, they were unable to reach an agreement. Both parties then requested suggestions from FDSS for resolving the dispute. Ben referred the case to Mike, a Senior Conciliator, for further assistance.
- The Senior Concialator presented a non-legally binding confidential proposal to both parents, outlining how a court might decide the matter if it were brought before them. Additionally, Mike provided them with a digital copy of a relevant similar case law.
- Following Mike's proposal, both parties agreed with a few minor amendments. Mike prepared the agreement. An agreement was signed by both parties.
- FDSS then guided both parties how to file a parenting order application by consent, turning their private agreement into a legally-binding court order.
- Jack and Mary were pleased that they reached an agreement without resorting to litigation in the Family Court. They both decided to utilise the "FDSS Ongoing Conflict Prevention Service" and agreed to add FDSS as an intervener in their parenting order. In the event of any future disputes, both parents could contact FDSS for intervention.
If an agreement isn't reached, both parties have the option (by consent) to explore alternative child-focused suggestions from the conciliator and third party specialist. The suggestions to be offered are not legally binding and confidential.
If the dispute can’t be resolved through conciliation, you can apply to have the matter heard in the court or go through the FDR process as you wish.
Our role is to assist the parties to consider different options to resolve the dispute and provide non-legally binding confidential information about possible terms of settlement. We can also help write up the conciliation agreement.
You do not need a lawyer to participate in conciliation - however its up to seek an advice from a lawyer if you wish to do so.
Unless both parties consent for this to happen.
Online or through telephone meetings. Meetings can happen in-person depending on both parties location or if we have concliators available in your area.
They are both similar processes. The Conciliation is more informal and quick process than mediation. The benefit of Conciliation is that the Concilator is able to provide non-legally binding and confidential solutions and suggestions.
Please complete the "Request Call Back form" . One of our coaches will contact you to discuss about your membership.
Feel free to read other parents' feedback about the support we provide. We are happy to provide you with the contact details of many parents who used our services ! We do good stuff for our community - amazing stuff. In a Nutshell - we simply care about our community members and children and we want them to overcome their family separation without any conflict or stress.
Conciliation often take place in a face-to-face meeting (depending on your location) or a meeting over the telephone or Audio and Video meeting plaform. In some cases, it can be resolved through an exchange of letters and conversations with the conciliator.
Conciliation often take place in a face-to-face meeting (depending on your location) or a meeting over the telephone or Audio and Video meeting plaform. In some cases, it can be resolved through an exchange of letters and conversations with the conciliator.
It depends on your location but there will be additional charges for room hire, travel and associated costs, if a meeting in-person is required.
Simply, instead of litigating your disputes in the Family Court which
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TBA
TBA
Yes - sure it is optional and it must be agreed by consent. Still one of the parties can request to receive suggestions or solutions.
Indeed, seeking our expertise can spare you from enduring both emotional and financial strains associated with a protracted legal battle. Our experience indicates that pursuing resolution through the court system often leads to years of prolonged conflict. Our goal is to guide you towards a more efficient and amicable resolution process, ultimately alleviating unnecessary hardships.
We are offering this community service because we believe in the importance of providing support and guidance to families experiencing parental disputes, separations, and divorces. We understand the emotional and financial toll that these situations can take on individuals and families. By offering our expertise and resources, we aim to empower people to navigate these challenges more effectively. Our goal is to contribute to healthier, more harmonious communities by helping individuals find constructive resolutions to their conflicts.
Ongoing Conflict Prevention
FDSS acts as a third party to intervene in potential future disputes demonstrates a proactive. FDSS aims to eliminate conflicts early, before they escalate to litigations.
Many parents approach us on regular basis, wanting to initiate application in the Family Court without attempting to resolve issues out of the court. This proactive approach aims to prevent parental disputes from escalating to court litigation, ensuring a healthier and more constructive co-parenting dynamic between the guardians.
Upon signing up with the ongoing conflict prevention service, an experienced concilator will be appointed to deal with your case who will act as a third party and intervene in potential future disputes that may arise.
Case Study: Resolving Prolonged Parental Disputes with FDSS
Background:
Jack and Mary, a couple with two children, found themselves embroiled in a six-year legal battle over the care arrangements for their kids. The ongoing litigation led to a heightened level of conflict, adversely affecting the children's relationship with their mother, Mary. The situation had escalated to the point where the children were refusing to communicate or meet with her.
Challenge:
Despite a court order mandating that Mary spend time with her children on a weekly basis, the children's resistance persisted. The family was caught in a cycle of conflict and estrangement, and the legal process had failed to bring about a satisfactory resolution.
Intervention:
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Mary sought the assistance of Family Dispute Settlement Service (FDSS) to address the breach of the parenting order. FDSS recommended a non-litigious approach, proposing that Mary share the father's contact details in an attempt to resolve the issue outside of court.
Outcome:
FDSS promptly initiated a dialogue with the father. Through this intervention, contact between Mary and the children was successfully reestablished. Following this breakthrough, both parents, Jack and Mary, reached a mutual agreement to share the care of their children equally. They approached the Family Court to formalize their private arrangement into a final parenting order.
Long-term Strategy:
Recognizing the value of FDSS's intervention, both Mary and Jack opted to enroll in the "Ongoing Conflict Prevention Service." They committed to involving FDSS as a neutral third party in any potential future disputes. Additionally, they agreed to incorporate a clause in their parenting order, stipulating that FDSS would intervene to assist in dispute resolution, with the exception of cases involving serious allegations of violence.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the transformative impact of proactive intervention and mediation in resolving entrenched familial disputes. FDSS's strategic intervention not only restored the parent-child relationship but also paved the way for a cooperative co-parenting arrangement. By choosing to engage FDSS in an ongoing capacity, Jack and Mary have taken a proactive step towards maintaining a harmonious family environment, ultimately benefiting all members involved. This case serves as a testament to the power of constructive communication and professional support in overcoming long-standing conflicts within families.
FDSS – Family Disputes Support Services is a not for profit community organisation powered and funded by generous donors
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