THE LOW DOWN
Mention arbitration and many people think of construction disputes, or of the prestigious arbitral institutions that adjudicate complex commercial cases. Yet arbitration is increasingly being used close to home, in the family sector.
Divorce cases are taking ever longer.
Spending money up front for an arbitrator to resolve financial remedy or childrenrelated matters in a private setting can appear an appealing prospect. There are other advantages. Parties have the autonomy to set the agenda, scheduling hearings when and where convenient to them, for example. While some might say family law arbitration creates a two-tier system, it does have the advantage of relieving congested courts. No wonder more people are now considering arbitration as a time-effective and more palatable alternative. So how will this trend evolve?