Family Resolutions Specialty Court: Just the basics

Learn how Family Resolutions Specialty Court (FRSC) can help families in Massachusetts resolve custody and parenting disputes by reducing conflict, prioritizing children's well-being, and providing supportive services.

Introduction to FRSC

The traditional adversarial court system can be very hard on families moving to two  households. “Me versus you,” “I want my rights,” and “Let the judge decide” can cause  harm, increase conflict, and make co-parenting harder for years to come. 

The Family Resolutions Specialty Court (FRSC) offers a very different approach. Its key features are: 

• Self-expression/self-determination. Parents’ voices come first. Whenever possible, the Court supports parents making their own decisions about parenting, money, and property.
• The Focus is on needs, not just rights. The goal is to understand and meet the needs of each family member — not just one parent’s position.
• Communication. Parents learn and practice better communication skills to support long-term co-parenting.
• Informality. Instead of trials, the Judge holds informal “Court Conferences.” Everyone sits together at a table to talk about what the family needs to reach closure. Formal rules of evidence are relaxed.
• Special services. Families are supported by a team that includes:
  • Family Consultant: A mental-health professional who helps parents understand children’s needs, practice co-parenting and communication skills, develop a parenting plan, and find additional supports if needed.
  • Mediator: A neutral who helps parents talk about financial issues and work toward full agreement on all issues. Mediation is a core expectation in FRSC.
  • Team Coordinator: An attorney who guides the process, coordinates the Team, and ensures the case moves forward fairly and efficiently. 

The FRSC approach to legal rights

• Role of Attorneys: If parents have lawyers, those lawyers focus more on counseling than courtroom-style advocacy. Their job is to help parents understand the law, focus on needs, and make thoughtful decisions for the whole  family.
• Redefined Rights: Parents keep all their legal rights, but the emphasis shifts.  Instead of “getting everything I’m entitled to,” the focus is on finding workable  arrangements for money, property, decision-making, and parenting time that reduce conflict and support the children.
• Parents and other Team members look together at: what I need, what the other  parent needs, what each child needs, and what will help the family as a whole.
• The approach also recognizes that circumstances may change over time, and  that a cooperative co-parenting atmosphere helps children feel comfortable  spending time with both parents.