What is a FDR hearing in a divorce case?
An FDR is a Financial Dispute Resolution hearing. It is the second hearing in the financial court process, as part of divorce proceedings.
It involves a day of negotiations between the couple, with the aim of reaching a financial settlement.
The judge at the FDR provides guidance on what financial settlement they would order if they were the deciding judge at the Final Hearing.
This can be very helpful to assist the couple to have realistic expectations for the outcome of the financial agreement, during their negotiations.
Preparing for the FDR
You will hopefully have confidence that your legal team (solicitor and barrister) will have prepared your legal case for the FDR hearing. But perhaps you are wondering what steps you could take to prepare.
Here are my 10 steps to help you get prepared for your FDR (which are relevant for both a court led FDR and a private FDR):
1. Clear the whole day in your diary. It can be a long day and you won’t know how long you’re likely to be at court. Make sure you have childcare arrangements in place for the day as well as clearing your diary of any other appointments.
2. Don’t have much planned for the evening on the day of the FDR. You may feel quite tired after a busy day and will need time to come to, relax and unwind afterwards.
3. Get an early night the day before the FDR hearing. Plenty of sleep will help you feel clear-headed and focused for the day.
4. Come to court with an open mind. Be ready to negotiate and be willing to make some compromises to enable a settlement to be reached.
5. Bring snacks. It may sound silly, but it’ll help keep your energy levels up during the day. Good choices are nuts, seeds, fruit and chocolate.
6. Get clear on what exactly you and your ex are each proposing for settlement in your ‘offer letters’ and what your ‘bottom line’ would be to reach an agreement.
7. Come wanting to reach a settlement. Bring a positive attitude.
8. Be a good time keeper. Leave plenty of time to get to the court to ensure you can arrive calm and composed. Prepare your travel route and time.
9. Bring a notebook and pen to jot down questions for your legal team and record important points you want to remember.
10. Dress smartly and comfortably. Be respectful to the court. Avoid trying to dress in a manner to get sympathy from the judge.
For more advice on the family law legal process, click here – Legal Process and Family Court.
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