Reaching Agreement

Three people sitting around the table, getting advice

This is a gentle reminder that the information on the site is not a replacement for legal advice and we do not accept any liability for it. Seek legal advice here.

Non-Court Dispute Resolution

There are lots of different ways to resolve problems without going to court.

It's a good idea to explore these options because:

  • it keeps you in control of the decision as a judge is not making the decisions for you

  • the court expects it

  • it is quicker than going to court

  • it is usually much less stressful than going to court

Here are some ways that involve helpful third parties.

Help before you're thinking about court

In the section below, we've listed sources of reaching agreement outside the court process. But sometimes when you are still together, or things haven't got too bad, you might still want help in making decisions. Here are some sources that you can use.

We also have a short guide of support for parents here.

Two people shaking hands
Reaching Agreement