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 representatives who are not lawyers. The council conducts mediation meetings with the parties, encouraging settlements. If the parties reach an agreement, the settlement is recorded and has binding effect on the parties.

Judgment and appeal: If no agreement is reached, Forliksråd may issue a binding verdict within its competence. The decision can be appealed to the district court (tingrett) within a specified timeframe, after which the case proceeds in the ordinary court system.

Jurisdiction and scope: Forliksråd handles civil disputes such as contracts, consumer issues, landlord-tenant matters, and neighbor disputes, typically involving relatively modest sums. There are rules governing which cases fall under Forliksråd’s competence, and some disputes must be brought directly to the district court.

Relation within the system: It complements the ordinary court system by encouraging settlements and reducing caseloads. The Forliksråd model reflects a broader Nordic approach to accessible dispute resolution through mediation and conciliation.