You may be eligible for Family Legal Advice Service (FLAS) which is free to you and authorised by the Ministry of Justice. Click here for information on funding eligibility to see if you qualify.
FLAS is the out-of-court process for Care of Children Act implemented by the Family Justice System. This is when you don't agree the best way forward regarding care arrangements for your children. It is made up of two activities that we are involved in::
- Activity One - we make a time for you to come in and see us and discuss your situation and the steps that the Ministry gives us to sort out the dispute. This is our initial legal advice consultation.
- Activity Two - this covers subsequent legal advice and Court-entry forms if required.
The aim of this service is to facilitate you and your ex partner to come to an agreement about the care of your children moving forward. We require you to fill out the following Questionnaire to give us the appropriate information required for Activity One before you come into see us..
Questionnaire
After you have seen us for initial legal advice (Activity One) you will be expected to then complete a Parenting through Separation Course and Family Disputes Resolution (a mediation). Often during these events agreement can be reached about care arrangements of your children. The Ministry encourages these "out of Court" agreements.
If you need to find a Parenting Through Separation Course provider - click here.
If you want to find out more about mediation (FDR) and find providers - click here.