What outcome can I expect?
How do you manage a dispute?
"We enable you
to make informed
decisions"
Amanda Glover,
Dept Head
to make informed
decisions"
Amanda Glover,
Dept Head
The most common dispute resolutions are:
- after discussions or correspondence the parties may agree not to continue with the dispute, sometimes known as a 'drop hands' settlement
- through negotiation – with the parties agreeing how the dispute will be settled, and which could involve one party paying money to the other, or doing something to put right what was wrong
- through mediation – a mediator will help the parties resolve their differences and agree a settlement
- by issuing court proceedings – the most serious and often most expensive way of resolving a dispute, it should be a last resort
When trying to decide how best to settle a dispute you may need to think about legal costs. You or the other party may have instructed a solicitor and it isn't unusual for one party to ask the other party to pay their costs.
However, there's no automatic right to have your legal costs paid by the other party, unless the court orders them to pay.
If you do issue court proceedings and you're successful, the other party may be ordered to pay you money. If they don't pay within a short time, usually 14 days, you can 'enforce the judgment'. There are different options available:
- instructing a court bailiff or High Court enforcement officer to seize the other party's possessions
- having the other party's employer pay money to you from their salary
- having the other party's bank pay money to you from their account
- obtaining a charge over the other party's property
- Who is a petitioner and who is a respondent?
- Will I have to go to court?
- Who will pay for my divorce?
- Does the judge make an order on what will happen with my children?
- How long does it take to get divorced?
- What facts demonstrate that a marriage has irretrievably broken down?
- Do I have to be married for a length of time before I can divorce?
- The other party had promised to improve, but haven't. Can I tear up the contract?
- Is it better to talk to the other party before making a dispute a legal matter?
- What should I do if a supplier breaks our contract terms?
