What happens at a dispute resolution appointment (DRA)?

How long it takes, and what it would cost

On your own

Several days

With Wren

A couple of hours

Solicitor for each hearing

£740 to £1,4803 to 6 hours

Times and hours are Wren’s estimates for a typical case, not quotes. Solicitor costs are those hours at £247 an hour, the courts’ guideline rate for a solicitor with over four years’ experience, outside London (GOV.UK, Solicitors' guideline hourly rates (in effect from 1 January 2026)). The guideline runs from £200 to £295 an hour outside London depending on experience, firms set their own rates, and VAT is added on top.

When a DRA is listed

The rules say the court lists a DRA if it is likely to help the child. It follows a section 7 report, an expert report or a separated parents programme. Cafcass sometimes calls it a dispute resolution hearing.

When the court fixes a fact-finding hearing, it must at the same time fix a DRA to follow it.

Some family courts use a different approach called the Child Focused Model. There, a Child Impact Report is prepared early and the steps differ from those described here. Cafcass says the model is being rolled out across England and Wales.

What the court does at the DRA

The judge works through these steps.

1. Identifies the key issues still to be decided, and how far they can be resolved or narrowed.
2. Considers whether the DRA can be used as the final hearing.
3. May hear evidence to resolve or narrow the issues.
4. Identifies the evidence needed on any issues left for the final hearing.
5. Gives final directions: further evidence, a statement of issues, a witness template or skeleton arguments, bundles, and the final hearing date.

Who attends

Each party must attend. The author of the section 7 report only attends if the court has directed it.

If findings of fact were made about disputed allegations, later hearings should be before the same judge, or at least the same presiding magistrate.

Preparing for the DRA

Check your last court order for what you must file and when. The bundle rules apply to every hearing where a bundle is filed.

In children cases, a position statement must not be longer than 3 pages. It should set out the orders you are asking for. A fresh one is needed for each hearing.

The person responsible for the bundle must serve and file it 5 working days before the hearing. Preliminary documents not already sent go by 11am on the working day before. If the court asks, each party files an updated Form FM5 at least 7 days before.

If you agree

If you reach agreement at the DRA, the court must still check it before making an order. Where safeguarding checks are outstanding, the court may delay making a final order by consent.

Under the domestic abuse practice direction, the court must not usually make a child arrangements order by consent unless safeguards are met. The parties must be present, safeguarding checks must be in, and Cafcass must have spoken to each party separately.

Safety

Protective arrangements at court apply to every hearing once they are put in place. You can ask for participation directions, such as separate waiting areas or a video link.

If you or a child are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. You do not have to reveal your address or contact details to the other party. You can tell the court on Form C8 and they will not be shared unless the court directs.

Key dates

1. At least 7 days before the hearing, if the court requiresEach party files and serves an updated Form FM5.Source: para 10C(b) ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)
2. 5 working days before the hearingThe bundle is served on the other parties and filed by the person responsible for it.Source: para 13.2 ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)
3. By 11am on the working day before the hearingPreliminary documents not already sent are served and filed.Source: para 13.2 ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)