---
title: "Is Court the Only Way to Resolve Custody in Quebec? ✦ Goldwater Droit"
canonical_url: "https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/faqs/is-court-the-only-way-to-resolve-custody-quebec"
last_updated: "2026-09-15T21:18:05.578Z"
locale: en
meta:
  description: "No. Quebec encourages family mediation and negotiation before court; an information session on parenting and mediation is part of the process under art. 417 C.p.c."
  "og:description": "No. Quebec encourages family mediation and negotiation before court; an information session on parenting and mediation is part of the process under art. 417 C.p.c."
  "og:title": "Is Court the Only Way to Resolve Custody in Quebec?"
---

# Is going to court the only way to resolve a custody dispute in Quebec?

No. Court is not the only route, and often not the first. Quebec's Code of Civil Procedure encourages private dispute resolution, and family matters involving parenting and support are channelled through a mandatory information session on parenting and mediation under article 417 C.p.c., with subsidized family mediation widely available. Many custody and parenting disputes are resolved through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative processes without a contested hearing, which is usually faster, less costly, and less adversarial for the children. Court remains available and appropriate where agreement is not possible, where there is bad faith or a serious power imbalance, or where safety concerns make mediation unsuitable. The right path depends on the specific situation.

Code of Civil Procedure, arts. 1–7 (private dispute resolution) Code of Civil Procedure, art. 417 (parenting and mediation information session)