Forliksråd
Forliksråd, meaning conciliation council, is a Norwegian public body that provides mediation and conciliation in civil disputes. It functions as the first step in civil proceedings, offering an accessible and often low-cost path to settle disputes before or instead of formal court litigation. Forliksråd is established in most municipalities and is part of the Norwegian judiciary system.
Composition and proceedings: Each Forliksråd is chaired by a judge or senior official and includes two lay
Judgment and appeal: If no agreement is reached, Forliksråd may issue a binding verdict within its competence.
Jurisdiction and scope: Forliksråd handles civil disputes such as contracts, consumer issues, landlord-tenant matters, and neighbor
Relation within the system: It complements the ordinary court system by encouraging settlements and reducing caseloads.