The conciliator of justice: settling a dispute amicably, free of charge

Published on 09/07/2026

An unpaid bill dragging on, a neighbour conflict, a dispute with a tradesperson or a landlord: before considering a trial — often long and costly — there is a free and little-known route, the conciliator of justice (conciliateur de justice). Here, in a documentary way, is what they do, what they do not do, and how to refer a matter to them.

What is a conciliator of justice?

The conciliator of justice is a volunteer officer of the court, appointed by the First President of the court of appeal (Decree No. 78-381 of 20 March 1978). Their task: to help two parties in disagreement find an amicable solution, without going before a judge. They are not a judge and do not give legal advice: they bring points of view closer together and record any agreement.

Entirely free assistance

Recourse to a conciliator of justice is completely free, as confirmed by the official page Conciliator of justice (service-public.gouv.fr, F1736). This is one of the major differences with the civil mediator, whose fees are generally shared between the parties.

Which disputes can they settle — and which not?

The conciliator intervenes in everyday civil disputes: neighbour disturbances (boundary marking, party walls, right of way), disputes between landlord and tenant, unpaid sums, consumer disputes, defects, disputes between traders, rural disputes.

ℹ️ What is outside the conciliator's remit: family matters and personal status (divorce, parental authority, maintenance — see Applying to the family court judge and Family mediation), disputes with the administration, employment law (labour court) and criminal matters.

Sometimes a compulsory step before the judge

For many small disputes, attempting an amicable resolution is not merely advisable: it is compulsory before referring the matter to the judge, on pain of inadmissibility. Article 750-1 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in force in 2026, requires it where the claim:

seeks payment of a sum not exceeding 5 000 €, or
concerns a neighbour conflict (boundary marking, plantings, easements, abnormal neighbourhood disturbance).

Conciliation conducted by a conciliator of justice is one of the accepted ways to satisfy this obligation (along with mediation and the participatory procedure). Exemptions exist: urgency, legitimate reason, recovery of a small claim already attempted, an application to have an agreement approved, etc.

How to refer a matter to a conciliator of justice

Three routes, all free:

Directly, yourself: find a clinic near you (town hall, France services, point-justice) via the directory of conciliators. You can fill in the form Application for conciliation (service-public.gouv.fr, R48318) and hand it to the conciliator or to the court registry.
On the judge's proposal, once a trial has begun: the judge may delegate an attempt at conciliation.
Within the framework of the prior obligation of Article 750-1 above.

How a conciliation proceeds

The conciliator, once seised, summons and hears the parties; with their agreement, they may visit the premises and gather any useful information (Article 1536-2 of the Code of Civil Procedure). They impose nothing: they help the parties build their solution.

In the event of agreement: the record, and its enforceability

When an agreement is reached, it may be formalised in a record of agreement (constat d'accord), a written document signed by the parties and the conciliator (Article 1535-7 of the Code of Civil Procedure). To give it the same force as a judgment, a party may ask the judge to approve it: the approved agreement becomes an enforceable title (Article 1543 of the Code of Civil Procedure) — useful if the other party then fails to comply.

ℹ️ Since 1 September 2025, the entire Book V of the Code of Civil Procedure (amicable dispute resolution) has been renumbered (Decree No. 2025-660 of 18 July 2025). Many websites still cite the old Articles 1536 to 1541 or 1565 to 1567: these are obsolete.

In the event of failure: referring the matter to the judge

If the conciliation fails, you retain the right to refer the matter to the court. For a certain money claim that has gone unpaid, the simplest route is often the order for payment, a quick procedure initially without a hearing.

Do not confuse: conciliator, mediator, family mediation, consumer mediator

	Conciliator of justice	Mediator (civil)	Family mediation	Consumer mediator
Field	Small everyday civil disputes	Various civil/commercial disputes	Family conflicts	Consumer ↔ professional dispute
Cost	Free	Often paid	CAF scale based on income	Free for the consumer
Status	Volunteer, appointed by the court of appeal	Qualified professional	Qualified family mediator	Approved mediator (CECMC list)

The consumer mediator is also free for the individual, but reserved for disputes with a professional (Article L612-1 of the Consumer Code): do not send a neighbour conflict there.

Whatever the dispute, the strength of a case rests on the written and dated record of what happened: the request, the date, the reply — or the lack of a reply. Recording these facts as they occur, including in preparation for a conciliation, is one of Aridelle's uses. See Keeping a timeline of events.

For any individual situation, a point-justice, a conciliator of justice or Allô Service Public (3939) can guide you free of charge.