For certain categories of dispute it is becoming compulsory. The Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act 2026 introduces mandatory pre-case mediation for specified matters, with implementation rolling out district by district, so whether it applies depends on the dispute and where it would be filed. Separately, the Family Courts Act 2023 requires the court to attempt reconciliation before trial and again before judgment. We check the current position for the relevant district, explain what the process involves, and prepare clients so that the mediation stage is used productively rather than treated as a formality that simply delays the case.

Most family issues can be discussed, including dower, maintenance for a wife and children, custody and contact arrangements, return of ornaments and personal property, occupation of the family home, and division of jointly used assets. Some questions, such as the formal requirements for divorce or the legal status of children, are governed by personal law and statute and cannot simply be altered by agreement. Terms affecting children are also subject to the court's view of their welfare. We explain which issues can be resolved privately through family mediation and which require court approval or formal steps.

It depends on how the agreement is recorded. A settlement reached in a pending Family Court case can be recorded by the court and will then carry the force of its order or decree. A settlement through legal aid mediation is recorded in the form required by that process. A private agreement is a contract that may be enforceable, but proving and enforcing it can be harder, particularly where land must be transferred. We draft terms precisely and choose the right method of recording them, so that each party's promises can be enforced if the other side defaults.

Safety comes first. Where there has been violence, threats, coercion or controlling behaviour, ordinary face-to-face mediation may be inappropriate, and protection orders under the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 or other urgent remedies may be needed. Some clients still want to resolve financial or children's issues by agreement, which may be possible through lawyers, with separate rooms or with remote participation. We assess the risk carefully, put safeguards in place, and never encourage a client to agree to terms under pressure. A settlement reached through fear is unlikely to last; family mediation is never a substitute for protection.

Dower, or den mohor, is a legal right of the wife under Muslim law, and unpaid deferred dower usually becomes payable on divorce or death. Disputes often concern the amount recorded in the kabinnama, whether part was paid at marriage, and whether ornaments count towards payment. In family mediation, we review the documents and evidence, assess what a court is likely to award, and negotiate payment terms such as a lump sum, instalments or transfer of property. We make sure any settlement accurately records what has been paid and what remains due, to avoid future argument.

Parents can agree practical arrangements, and many do. However, a private agreement does not prevent either parent from later applying to the court, and the court will decide by reference to the child's welfare and the applicable personal law, not simply the parents' agreement. Recording the terms through the court or in a carefully drafted document makes them clearer and more durable. We help parents agree arrangements on residence, contact, schooling, travel and communication, and advise when court approval is advisable, particularly where one parent lives abroad or international travel is planned.

Often, yes. Legal aid offices, courts and private mediators increasingly accept remote participation for some sessions, though requirements vary and some steps may require personal attendance or a properly authorised representative. Clients abroad usually execute a power of attorney, attested by a Bangladesh mission or notarised and apostilled as required, so that a local representative can take formal steps. We coordinate time zones, documents and communication, and make sure any agreement is signed and authenticated in a form that will be accepted in Bangladesh and in the client's country of residence. Sharing documents in advance helps.

If mediation does not produce agreement, the dispute can proceed to the Family Court or other appropriate forum, and in mandatory pre-case cases the legal aid office will record the outcome so that the case can be filed. Nothing is lost by trying in good faith, and the process often narrows the issues even when it does not resolve them. We prepare the litigation strategy in parallel, so that the client can move forward quickly while keeping the possibility of later settlement open. Many cases settle after a failed first family mediation once issues are clearer.