what happens after First Appointment

Hi,

I''ve read the guide, but interested to know:

- what actually happens after the FA?

- what timelines will you be working towards?

- what happens if you cannot meet all the demands set out at the FA?

- what will the next court appointment be?

Thanks.

The FDA is a First Directions Appointment. The judge looks at the papers and makes Directions relevant to the case.

Any directions (orders) made by the court will usually specify a time for compliance. The parties are expected to comply and can be compelled to do so if they choose not to.

The purpose of the FDA is to ensure that both parties have everything they need (where each party ''discloses'' to the other those documents required) to enable them to attempt to reach a settlement. Once all documents have been disclosed the matter proceeds to the Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing.

The FDR is a without prejudice hearing where the judge acts as a mediator and tries to assist the parties to reach a settlement. Lots of cases settle at this stage but your mileage will vary. Both sides have to be willing to negotiate and compromise and the judge has to have enough time and will to help reach settlement.

Charles

Charles - thanks for the response.

What happens at or after the FDR if you simply cannot agree a way forward?

Turbo you go to Final Hearing, normal a whole day thing depending on the size of the marital pot but there is time to negotiate in between and hopefully make some way forward and compromise on both sides

Thanks - and if you do not reach an agreement come the end of the day?

you will or the court will enforce an order