At FDSS, we believe the Family Court should be a last resort, not the first step in resolving family disputes. When a relationship ends, dividing property can feel overwhelming—but you don’t always need to hire expensive lawyers or enter into lengthy court battles. With the right support, many people can manage significant parts of their relationship property case themselves, as self-represented.
The Court Is a Last Resort
The Family Court exists to make final decisions when all other options have been exhausted. However, before reaching that stage, there are practical, affordable ways to narrow or resolve disputes. Self-representation and mediation are effective ways to handle issues collaboratively and reduce stress, time, and cost.
Learn more about self-representation support services here:
Self-Representation Support in the Family Court
Relationship Property Mediation – A Smarter First Step
Mediation is an effective way to address relationship property disputes collaboratively. Even if not every issue is resolved, mediation helps clarify what remains in dispute, allowing any necessary court involvement to be more focused and efficient.
At FDSS, our Family Mediation Solutions Service help you:
- Identify what is agreed and what remains unresolved in colloborative setting.
- Explore practical settlement options
- Reduce legal costs and emotional stress
- Prepare efficiently for any necessary court steps, such as financial disclosures.
Instead of spending thousands of dollars on lawyers and negotiations, mediation allows you to make informed decisions at a tiny fraction of lawyers’ fees.
Supporting Self-Represented Parties (Without Legal Advice)
If you are representing yourself or wanting to represent yourself, you are not alone. Our team walks alongside you through every stage of the Family Court process, helping you understand what needs to be done—without giving legal advice. During the process you can still seek legal advice through a lawyer, if you wish to do so.
We can guide you to:
- Prepare and file or respond to an application
- Organise and manage your case documents / Financial disclosures.
- Understand court conferences, directions, and interlocutory events.
- Build confidence to present your case at hearing—or, if preferred, connect with a lawyer for representation
Sometimes, It is not necessary to have a lawyer from day one. You can handle much of the process yourself with our coaches structured guidance, then decide later whether to continue representing yourself or seek professional representation.
Real People, Real Results
We have guided hundreds of self-represented parents from across New Zealand through the Family Court process and mediation. With our support, they have achieved meaningful outcomes while retaining full control over their cases. We can even connect you with parents who have successfully navigated the process with our guidance, so you can learn from their experience and feel confident in your own journey.
Read some of their stories here:
FDSS Testimonials
Empowering You to Take Control
Self-representation is not about going it alone—it’s about being informed, empowered, and supported. FDSS helps you navigate the system, reduce costs, and focus on resolving what really matters, all while keeping the Family Court as a last option.
Zayne Jouma, Founder and Chairman of FDSS, is a self-taught and trained Mediator, Conflict Coach, Court Lay-Assistant (McKenzie Friend), and Community Coach. He has supported many parents through mediation and conflict resolution, assisting thousands of self-represented parents in Family Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal cases across New Zealand. Zayne is trained in conflict coaching, mediation, and child voice inclusion in mediation, with extensive experience in complex cases involving resist/refuse dynamics, family violence, relationship property, and care of children. He is also a licensed and approved New Ways for Families® Coach, trained by Bill Eddy of the High Conflict Institute.
