Family arbitration & private FDRs — faster ways to resolve money disputes

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28

The problem they solve

Court financial remedy cases are slow: months to a first appointment, more to FDR, longer to trial. Two private options get you to a decision — or a settlement — far faster, at your own cost.

Financial arbitration (IFLA)

The Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA) scheme lets separating couples appoint a qualified arbitrator to decide their financial case — or a specific issue within it (e.g. just the house, just a pension).

Binding: the award is enforceable like a court order (courts convert it into an order)
Confidential and on your timetable — weeks, not years
Cost: the arbitrator's fee (often several thousand pounds, sometimes shared) — but you save the court delay and often the full trial
Both parties must agree to arbitrate; children cases can't be arbitrated (children are court-only), though arbitration can run alongside children proceedings
Find an arbitrator via the IFLA list on the Family Law Bar/Resolution websites

Private FDR

The FDR (Financial Dispute Resolution) hearing is the court-backed negotiation stage where a judge tells you frankly what they'd likely order. A private FDR does the same — but you pay a retired judge or senior barrister to do it on a date you choose (often within weeks).

Statistically very effective: most private FDRs settle the case
You get a full day, unhurried, confidential
Costs are shared (typically several thousand each) — but far less than a trial
The court still makes the final consent order afterwards (a short attendance)

How to choose

| | Court FDR | Private FDR | Arbitration | |---|---|---|---| | Wait | months | weeks | weeks | | Cost | court fees only | shared private fee | arbitrator fee | | Binding? | only at final order | settlement → consent order | binding award | | Needs agreement? | no | yes | yes |

Official links

Arbitration: https://ifla.org.uk
Court process: https://www.gov.uk/money-property-when-relationship-ends

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with IFLA or HMCTS.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.