Family Dispute Resolution Centre

What Family Dispute Resolution Centre does

Family Dispute Resolution Centre (FDRC), incorporated in 2013 as New Zealand Family Dispute Resolution Centre Limited, is a privately-held specialist alternative dispute resolution provider operating from Takapuna, Auckland, and serving clients nationally across New Zealand. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The ADR Centre, a diversified dispute resolution group that also encompasses the New Zealand Dispute Resolution Centre (NZDRC), the New Zealand International Arbitration Centre (NZIAC), the Independent Complaint and Review Authority (ICRA), and the Building Disputes Tribunal (BDT). FDRC delivers four core processes — mediation, arbitration, the hybrid arb-med workflow, and one-on-one coaching — supported by add-on modules including Voice of the Child child-inclusive mediation, Child Development Consultation, and Preparation for Mediation Coaching.

FDRC organises its offering into five dispute categories: parenting and guardianship (the statutorily gated segment under the Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013), relationship property, trusts/wills/estates, elder care, and broader family and community conflict. Pricing is structured as tiered packages per matter: family/community matters from $849 + GST, elder care from $1,695 + GST, and relationship property and trust/estate matters from $3,000 + GST, plus a $275 application fee for parenting matters and a $150 deposit for FDR assessment. The technology stack is light: the website, a password-protected Mediator Portal for practitioners, Microsoft Bookings for free consultation scheduling, and technology-enabled arbitration infrastructure (e-bundles, remote/hybrid hearings, real-time transcription).

The go-to-market motion is consumer-led with professional referral support. Prospective clients self-apply via the website or a freephone line (0508 337 236) and are routed through free phone consultations before practitioner matching, with case management guiding intake to resolution. Referral pathways from lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, trustees, and corporate trustees feed higher-value matters. Distribution is supported by content marketing through the Knowledge Hub (articles and practice notes on mediation, technology-enabled arbitration, and AI use in arbitration) and social media presence on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The company is privately funded within The ADR Centre group, with no disclosed external funding and no public revenue figures.

Name

Family Dispute Resolution Centre

Legal name

New Zealand Family Dispute Resolution Centre Limited

Website

https://fdrc.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family Dispute Resolution Centre is a New Zealand-based specialist private dispute resolution provider offering mediation, arbitration, arb-med, and coaching services across parenting, relationship property, trusts and estates, elder care, and family or community conflicts, serving separating families and referring professionals nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Dispute Resolution: FDR Centre charges fees for its family dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, arb-med, and coaching services. Services are priced as structured packages tailored to complexity, with deposits and application fees required at intake. The organisation is fully administered and privately funded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FDRC delivers private, out-of-court family dispute resolution services for individuals and families across New Zealand, offering four core processes — Mediation, Arbitration, Arb-Med, and Coaching — across five situation categories: parenting/guardianship, relationship property, trusts/wills/estates, elder care, and family/community conflict. Services are provided by specialist practitioners supported by case management from intake through to resolution.

Product overview

The Family Dispute Resolution Centre (FDRC) is New Zealand's specialist family dispute resolution service, operating as a platform delivering structured private processes for families and individuals. The core service portfolio comprises four main processes — Mediation, Arbitration, Arb-Med (a hybrid of the first two), and Coaching — each available as standalone or complementary services. These are supported by specialist add-on modules including Voice of the Child, Child Development Consultation, and Preparation for Mediation Coaching. The centre organises its services across six distinct dispute categories: Parenting and Guardianship, Relationship Property, Trusts/Wills/Estates, Elder Care, and Family and Community Conflict. Pricing is tiered by complexity, ranging from $849 + GST for basic family/community matters to $3,000 + GST for relationship property and trust matters. FDRC is part of The ADR Centre group, which also encompasses the New Zealand Dispute Resolution Centre (NZDRC), Independent Complaint and Review Authority (ICRA), New Zealand International Arbitration Centre (NZIAC), and Building Disputes Tribunal (BDT). The organisation also publishes practice notes governing technology-enabled arbitration and AI use in arbitration proceedings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediation A confidential, facilitated dispute resolution process where a neutral mediator helps disputing parties identify issues, explore options, and reach mutual agreement by consensus. Outcomes are decided by the parties, not the mediator. Sessions may be in-person, by phone, or video conference. For families and individuals resolving family disputes.
• Arbitration A formal, private process where an independent arbitrator hears both sides and makes a final, binding decision based on submissions and evidence. Used when parties cannot reach agreement through mediation and need a definitive outcome without going to court. For families and individuals needing a binding decision.
• Arb-Med A hybrid process combining arbitration and mediation. Begins with arbitration directions to clarify issues and share information, then transitions to mediation. If agreement is not reached, arbitration resumes and the arbitrator issues a binding decision. Provides negotiation flexibility with outcome certainty for families and individuals.
• Coaching One-on-one sessions with an experienced practitioner providing practical and emotional support for people navigating separation, mediation preparation, or difficult family conversations. Helps clients gain clarity, confidence, and communication strategies before formal dispute resolution.
• Parenting and Guardianship Services Specialist FDR services covering care arrangements, guardianship decisions, co-parenting communication, extended family relationships, and changing family dynamics for separating parents. Includes a non-refundable $275 (incl GST) application fee.
• Relationship Property Mediation Private mediation for separating couples working through property and financial arrangements including shared assets, debt, business structures, trusts, and pre/post-relationship agreements. Pricing from $3,000 + GST, structured around complexity.
• Trusts, Wills, and Estate Dispute Resolution Specialist mediation for trust, will, estate, and inheritance disputes involving families, executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. Addresses questions about distribution, trust governance, executor/trustee decision deadlocks, and complex multi-trust or high-value wealth matters. From $3,000 + GST.
• Elder Care Mediation Family dispute resolution for decisions about ageing parents' care, living arrangements, finances, enduring powers of attorney, and future planning. Supports adult children, older individuals, families navigating distance, and disputes with care providers. From $1,695 + GST.
• Family and Community Conflict Resolution Mediation for family communication breakdowns, neighbour or community conflicts, school or organisation-related disputes, and situations that do not fit a formal legal category. Focused on early intervention before conflict escalates. From $849 + GST.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mediation can typically begin within 10 days of both parties being ready to engage
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The ADR CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FDR Centre is a subsidiary of The ADR Centre, one of New Zealand's most experienced and respected dispute resolution organisations. The ADR Centre encompasses the New Zealand Dispute Resolution Centre (NZDRC), the Independent Complaint and Review Authority (ICRA), the New Zealand International Arbitration Centre (NZIAC), and the Building Disputes Tribunal (BDT). FDR Centre clients benefit from deep practitioner expertise, a trusted network, and established dispute resolution processes under a shared governance umbrella.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Relationships Australia: Not-for-profit federation providing family dispute resolution, mediation, and relationship counselling across Australia and with adjacent NZ services. Comparable in mission, service mix, and target customer base of separating families.
• National Family Mediation (NFM): UK charity network providing family mediation, child-inclusive mediation, and divorce services. Comparable in specialist family ADR focus and child-inclusive service model (akin to FDRC's Voice of the Child offering).
• Resolution Institute: Australia and New Zealand professional body for mediators, arbitrators, and adjudicators. Comparable as a regional ADR accreditation and practitioner network across the same trans-Tasman family and commercial dispute space.

Broad incumbents

• Modern Family Law: US family law firm network offering mediation, arbitration, and litigation services for divorce, custody, and family matters. Comparable as a broader family-law services incumbent offering private ADR alongside court representation.

Emerging players

• Amicable: UK-based online divorce and family mediation platform offering structured, fixed-fee private resolution. Comparable as a private-pay alternative to court-based divorce and family dispute resolution, addressing the same customer pain points.
• CoParenter: US-based app and service for co-parents to manage child arrangements, communication, and disputes outside court. Comparable in targeting co-parenting conflict and offering private, structured alternatives to Family Court.
• Mediate.com: Long-standing online directory and resource hub for mediators and arbitrators globally. Comparable as a content-led ADR platform and practitioner marketing channel for family dispute resolution.

Direct peers

• FairWay Resolution: New Zealand government-owned dispute resolution provider offering family mediation and FDR services nationally. Most directly comparable peer — same country, same statutory FDR workflow, same target customers (separating parents, families).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FDRCentre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLc9m05JeWT3bbTwkO6tZEgtdoMmdyetyz
• Facebookfacebook.com/FDRCentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fdr-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Family Dispute Resolution Centre