For Lawyers

Our team provides support not only directly to clients but also to their legal counsel.

We provide:

advice to lawyers around process options;
training in relation to the processes we offer; and
ongoing support and case management for any active cases with a dedicated case manager.

Contact us today by completing the form on this page and we can make a time to discuss how we can best help you in your practice.

The Brain Science of Conflict

by Catherine Green | 12/07/2019 | Counselling, Elder Mediation, Family Law, FDR Mediation, Mediation, Voice of the Child | 0 Comments

Yesterday, we at the FDR Centre were delighted to co-host with NZDRC two sessions with Kathryn Berkett learning all about the neuroscience behind conflict. Sounds complicated? Luckily Kathryn is absolutely brilliant at communicating the science in a completely...

Misguided affection

by Virginia Bonanni | 22/11/2023 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation | 0 Comments

Written by Richard Pidgeon In Peeling v Gordon [2023] NZFC 2857, an aunt sought to become her niece and nephew’s cultural adviser under the Care of Children Act 2004, after a failed attempt to have contact with them. This application was struck out as an abuse of the...

Elder Mediation – a “Sensible” Option

by Virginia Bonanni | 12/09/2023 | Sample | 0 Comments

By Adrian Sharma Family and relationship conflicts can occur around different issues. While we traditionally tend to think of family disputes centring around the distribution of property and custody of children, the reality is that a number of these conflicts...

THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTRE (ADR CENTRE) LAUNCHES ITS DEDICATED WEBSITE

by Virginia Bonanni | 15/02/2023 | Sample | 0 Comments

The ADR Centre launched its dedicated website. This follows the opening of the physical ADR Centre in August 2022, the first purpose-built centre for dispute resolution in New Zealand. The ADR Centre is the first true bricks-and-mortar centre for practitioners in New...

NZ High Court orders former spouses to ADR

by Virginia Bonanni | 25/01/2023 | Family Law, FDR Centre, Mediation, Relationship Property, Trusts and Estates | 0 Comments

By Sam Dorne Courts worldwide have long seen the benefits of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as mediation. However, the courts have either been constrained or unwilling to force parties to participate in the ADR process. The High Court in New Zealand has...

Child support to become fairer for sole parent beneficiaries from 1 July 2023

by Virginia Bonanni | 31/05/2022 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation | 0 Comments

By Kate Holland Changes announced last week as part of the 2022 budget will affect how child support is paid to parents who receive a benefit at the sole parent rate. Starting 1 July 2023, child support payments will be passed on in full to these parents without the...

How To Stay Calm During Difficult Conversations

by Virginia Bonanni | 17/12/2021 | Counselling, Family Law, FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation, Relationship Property, Trusts and Estates, Voice of the Child | 0 Comments

No-one really likes difficult conversations. But they are everywhere. They can be at work, the dentists’ office (it cost how much?!), the hairdressers (uh, yes, it looks great!) and of course, at home. The conversations are all floating out there, always waiting for...

A child’s right to participate in family dispute proceedings

by Virginia Bonanni | 02/12/2021 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation, Voice of the Child | 0 Comments

A child's right to participate in family dispute proceedings is recognised in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has been given effect to in legislation such as the Care of Children Act 2004 (COCA). The recently passed Family Court (Supporting Children...

Supreme Court Provides Valuable Guidance on Relationship Property Disputes

by Virginia Bonanni | 12/11/2021 | Family Law, FDR Centre, Mediation, Relationship Property | 0 Comments

By Melissa Perkin. Case Overview The Supreme Court has recently released its decision in Preston v Preston[1], providing valuable guidance in relationship property disputes and the application of section 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980, which empowers a court...

Changes Made to Recovering Child Support from Overseas-based Parents

by Virginia Bonanni | 01/11/2021 | Sample | 0 Comments

In 2019, there were approximately 16,700 overseas-based parents with child support obligations to New Zealand children. Although the vast majority, about 12,500, lived in Australia where New Zealand has had good reciprocal arrangements for collecting these payments...

Grandparents and FDR Mediation

by Virginia Bonanni | 02/10/2021 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation, Voice of the Child | 0 Comments

By Hannah Aziz. It is widely recognised that grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. When family disputes arise, grandparents can often feel left out in the cold and unsure of their legal options, or what access they may have to...