In many cases, your family law matter or dispute can be resolved without the intervention of the courts. Frequently, it is possible to resolve a family law matter more quickly and with less cost when the parties engage in alternative dispute resolution, such as negotiation, mediation, or arbitration; in some family law matters, the court may even require you to participate in dispute resolution to try and reach a mutual agreement before the court will hear your dispute. Settling your family law dispute is also preferable to letting the court decide the matter, as you control the outcome in a settlement, whereas going to court puts the outcome in the hands of the judge.