>In the U.S. you can settle out of court before it ever goes to court. The point is to avoid the courtroom and the costs involved and a huge settlement awarded by a jury or that it might not go your way.

Well I imagine the possibility exists in any legal system, civil or not, but the system is involved in the first place and makes sure that the parties are freely choosing to settle. If I understand correctly, this was about the divorce and testament and other family and property related stuff - and if this never reaches the court, then I'd just make any decision of the religious courts unenforceable without consent of all parties, i.e. completely voluntary and in no way mandatory.