NO - we are not lawyers or a law firm. We are experienced Self-represented parents with over a decade of lived experience helping families to dealing with the Family Court and Family Separation. We have helped thousands and hundreds of parents from many all regions within New Zealand.

You can check out the feedback from whānau who have used our services. Any advice or information provided orally or in writing, on our website, or by email is not intended to, nor it does constitute to legal advice.

No - none of the services replace a lawyer service or any programs mandated by the ministry of justice or the family court. 

Ongoing Coaching Support is a comprehensive and supportive one-on-one continuous and recurring service to help individuals and families navigate through the challenges of family separation and their court proceedings. It happens over the phone or Audio & Video links and emails. One of our experienced coaches will be assigned to support you through your court prceedings or separation journey. You are able to contact your coach, if you require any assistance or guidance about any issues related to your Family Separation process or Family Court case. 

Below are some guidelines primarily for Self-represented litigants in the Family Court. Some of the guidelines also apply to other parents who are newly separated and parents who are represented by lawyers.

1. Coaching & Support: We are here to support you throughout your separation journey or your family court case. (How to make it right) - We do everything we can to assist you during the process.
2. Moral support: At FDSS, we consistently encourage parents to resolve their disputes outside of the court, unless there safety concerns about you and your children. Our primary aim is to assist you and your family in achieving a swift recovery with minimal harm and less parental conflict.
3. Instructing you on what to do: We do not give explicit instructions on what you should or must do. Instead, we can offer suggestions, assist you with your decision-making process, and help you make well-informed choices.
4. Decision-Making Process: We will assist you with your decision-making process, we will explain to you the advantages/ disadvantges/implications of any decisions or steps you may wish to take and we may provide you with public case law / legal information / psychological references relevant to your case to help you make informed decisions. 
5. Speaking / Settling on your behalf: We are unable to settle on your behalf. We cannot speak on your behalf unless you give us consent to do so. In court hearings, we are not permitted to speak on your behalf in any matters, unless a Judge grants us permission.
6. Legal Information: We can point out publicly available legal information relevant to your situation and case, and explain them to you. We can also provide you with available options based on this information. It is up to you to use this information and apply it in your case.
7. Forms & Templates: We can direct you to the prescribed forms and templates available online that are relevant to your case.
8. Drafting Documents: Drafting any documents is your responsibility. You will begin by drafting documents and when you are done we can review your draft.
9. Reviewing Documents: We can review your completed forms or documents. We might suggest some edits or amendments if needed. It is up to you to accept them or not.
10. Revising Documents: Revising the document/s is your responsibility. We can suggest some information or provide you with some information or case law / legal information / process or psychological references. You have the ability to delete, amend, reject, or accept any of the suggested information.
11. Filing & Service: We will guide you through the process of filing documents in the court according to the Family Court rules and how to serve them on other parties.
12. Correspondence Review: We can review the emails, letters, and communications with other parties and the court registry. You need to draft the letters/emails and we will review them if needed. We can communicate on your behalf with the court registry and other organizations and lawyers, if required and only with your consent.
13. Support in Hearings (McKenzie Friend): We can attend court events with you as a McKenzie Friend aka Lay-assistant or Support Person. Please check what a McKenzie Friend can do. (Additional charges may apply) - contact us if required.
14. Court Events: We will explain what to expect during court hearings and conferences and any court events, as well as the preparations associated with all the details.
15. Being a Witness: We cannot act as a witness in your court case.

The 1:1 ongoing coaching support service cost is based on Annual Subscription fee, which can be paid one-off or by installments: weekly or fortnightly or monthly. 

The subscription fees are heavily subsidised and starts from $6 to $40 per week (no committments) depending on your case circumstances such as; your current situation, how many issues and the complexity of the case and what is required. (You can cancel the subscription at anytime).

You will be surprised that the majority of the enquiries we receive are from parents who have legal representation. We bring specialised knowledge and experience in family separation and court proceedings (from a community perspective). This can complement the expertise of your current lawyer. The knowledge we share would also provide you with more skills on how to instruct your lawyer effectivley.

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 - Simply Amazing stuff. The most common feedback we receive from whānau "I wish i knew FDSS at the early stages of my separation"

You can read more about self-representation on this link - also feel free to contact us, if you have any further questions .... 

Anyone is able to represent themselves in the Family Court without a lawyer. Most importantly is understanding how to make it right - and whether you are capable to do it. That's where service like ours come in. We aim to support parents who choose to represent themselves in Family Court by providing guidance, coaching, and assistance throughout the process. Our goal is to help you navigate the complexities of the legal system and make informed decisions for the best interests of your family.

It's crucial to understand the process thoroughly and have extensive support during the process. This includes being aware of legal procedures, knowing how to present your case, and being prepared for court proceedings and alot more. 

Please complete the "Request Call Back form" . One of our coaches will contact you to discuss further.