Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA) meaning

This Practice Note clearly explains the courts’ function within the context of family arbitration. In matters concerning families, any arbitration normally proceeds under the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA) scheme. The courts continue to have overall jurisdiction over any family arbitration award or determination and will endorse the award or determination provided it falls within recognised limits, thereby fully respecting the parties’ autonomy. For further practical guidance on, among other things, the conduct of arbitration in family cases, the principal advantages of arbitration, the scope of the IFLA scheme and the arbitrator’s powers, please see Practice Note: Family arbitration—introduction. Acting on Law Commission proposals to reform the Arbitration Act 1996 (AA 1996) and to bring in measures to bolster arbitrator immunity, enhance overall case efficiency and clarify the court’s powers, a draft Bill reflecting those recommendations was formally laid before Parliament and subsequently obtained Royal Assent on 25 February 2025. Accordingly, the Arbitration Act 2025 (AA 2025) modifies AA 1996 from 1 August 2025 by virtue of the Arbitration...

This Practice Note sets out how arbitration operates in family matters, available for financial disputes from March 2012 and for children issues from July 2016. It reviews, in particular, the applicable rules, explains the part played by a solicitor acting for a party in achieving a binding arbitration, and highlights the principal benefits of arbitration. It also describes the reach and application of the Institute of Family Arbitrators (IFLA) scheme and the arbitrator’s powers. For practical guidance on the courts’ role and approach in relation to arbitral awards or determinations, see Practice Note: Family arbitration—the role of the courts. What is arbitration? Arbitration is a formal method of dispute resolution in this context. The parties enter into an agreement by which they appoint a suitably qualified individual (an arbitrator) to decide their dispute and issue an award. Family law disputes have been arbitrable and within scope since 26 March 2012, following the launch of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA). The IFLA is a collaborative initiative formed...