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Family, marriage & divorce

Family Mediation & Reconciliation

Not every family dispute needs a fought-out trial. Mediation lets both sides settle dower, maintenance, custody and access in private, faster and at less cost, and it keeps the decisions in your hands instead of a judge’s. Our principal is an accredited mediator, and the Family Courts Act 2023 now builds mediation into the process.

Family Courts Act 2023 (ADR)Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 (Arbitration Council)
Judge's gavel, a case file and a small toy house, illustrating the Family Courts Act 2023 in Bangladesh

What this covers

Mediation is a structured conversation, led by a neutral mediator, that helps two sides reach an agreement they can both live with. In family matters it works for dower and maintenance, for custody and access, and for the practical terms of a separation. Reconciliation is the related effort to see whether a marriage can be saved before it ends, including through the Arbitration Council that a talaq notice triggers. We offer both, and we are honest about which one fits.

Why mediation, and when

A mediated agreement is usually quicker, cheaper and more private than a contested case, and it tends to hold better because both sides shaped it. It is especially valuable where children are involved and the parents will have to deal with each other for years. It is not the right tool for every case; where there is abuse or a real imbalance of power, we say so and take the protective route instead.

Mediation inside the court process

The Family Courts Act 2023 encourages settlement at more than one stage of a case. Mediation is not only an alternative to going to court; it can resolve a matter that has already been filed. We represent clients in court-connected mediation as readily as in private mediation before a case starts.

Reconciliation and the Arbitration Council

When a talaq notice is served, the law provides a ninety-day period and an Arbitration Council whose purpose is to give reconciliation a genuine chance. Where both sides are open to it, we take that process seriously rather than treating it as a formality.

Mediation only works when it is safe and fair. If you are being pressured, or there has been violence, mediation is not the answer, and we will not push you into it. In those cases we move to protection first.

What to bring

  • A short note of what you want to resolve and what matters most to you
  • The kabinnama, and any court papers if a case has already been filed
  • Details of income, maintenance and any children’s needs
  • Any partial agreement you have already reached

How it works, and how long it takes

A mediation can often be arranged within days and settled in one or a few sessions, far faster than a contested case. What is agreed is written up clearly so it can be relied on, and where a case is already before the court, a settlement can be placed on the record. If mediation does not succeed, what was said in it is not used against you, and we move to the contested route without losing time.

Supporting illustration for family mediation
How mediation runs
1

A private first conversation

We hear what you want to resolve, explain how mediation works, and check that it is the right and safe route for you.

2

Bring both sides to the table

We arrange the session with a neutral mediator, in person or online, at a pace that suits everyone.

3

Work to an agreement

We help you negotiate dower, maintenance, custody and access, and keep the discussion focused and fair.

4

Put it in writing

The agreement is documented and, where a case is filed, recorded with the court so it holds.

Many mediations settle in one or a few sessions.Book a Consultation

Read the free guides first

Most of what clients ask at a first meeting is answered step by step in our free guides. Read the ones below first; book a consultation when you want the chamber to act.

Common questions

Is a mediated agreement binding?

It is as binding as it is drafted to be. A properly recorded settlement, and one placed on the court record where a case is filed, can be relied on and enforced. We draft it so it holds, rather than leaving it as a loose understanding.

What if the other side will not mediate?

Then it is not forced, and we prepare the contested case. Often the offer to mediate, with a clear picture of the alternative, is what brings the other side to the table.

Is mediation suitable if there has been abuse?

Usually not. Where there has been violence or serious pressure, mediation can be unsafe and unfair, and we take the protection route instead. Safety comes first.

What is the Family Court and what cases does it hear?

Family Courts, now governed by the Family Courts Act 2023, hear five kinds of case: dissolution of marriage, restitution of conjugal rights, dower, maintenance, and guardianship and custody of children.

Is mediation compulsory before a family case?

The Family Court must try reconciliation before and after the trial. Legal aid offices also run pre-case mediation for family disputes in a growing number of districts. Ask us whether it applies where you live.

Speak with us about mediation or reconciliation

A written assessment costs nothing and commits you to nothing.

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