Question: How can I use Family Law Software on macOS Catalina 10.15 using Parallels?
Answer:
Apple has dropped support for 32-bit software, which breaks support with Family Law Software for the Mac. Our consultants are working with Apple to attempt to resolve the problem, but it is not resolved yet. We do not have any guarantee that it will ever be resolved or any clear time frame for when it will be resolved, if it will. We think it is more likely than not that it will be resolved eventually, and we would offer a guess at a six-month time frame, but please understand that this is speculative at this point.
There are three known solutions to allow you to use FLS Mac on macOS Catalina. All three unfortunately have a cost: FLS Cloud ($59.95/month), Parallels w/ Windows ($79.99/year + Cost of Windows), Parallels w/ macOS Mojave ($79.99/ year).
WARNING: Family Law Software is in NO WAY affiliated with Parallels and does not provide support for the Parallels software
The first solution to use FLS on macOS 10.15 would be to upgrade to the cloud version of FLS and use the software online with Safari, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.
The next two solutions use a 3rd-party application called Parallels to run the FLS Mac software from a different operating system. Parallels allows you run alternative operating systems from within your default operating system. Parallels cost $79.99/year ($6.66/month) which will allow you to have all future versions or $99.99 for the current version only. Once installed, you can take full advantage of using other operating systems (Alternative macOS versions, Windows, Linux, or other).
1) Installing Parallels
First, download and install the Parallels software from their website. They offer a full-featured free 14-day trial, or you can buy the software.
Next, locate the ParallelsDesktop##.dmg file in your Download folder or browser downloads menu and double-click the disk image file. Then, click the Install icon to begin the installer.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install Parallels.
2a) Install an older version of macOS to run FLS Mac
This approach does not require you to buy a Windows license. However, it is more limited in that you will not get access to all the other programs that run on Windows, and we can not guarantee this path will enable you to run Family Law software going forward.
When you first run Parallels on your Mac, an Installation Assistant will appear to easily guide you through the steps to installing your virtual machine.
Under Free Systems, scroll over to the right until you see Install macOS ##.##.## Using the Recovery Partition. You want to select a version earlier than 10.15.
Click Install and Parallels will automatically pull the OS files and install the OS as a virtual machine.
Once completed, you will see a screen to select your language. This is the first screen of the macOS setup process. Follow the process through to your Desktop.
Now you are ready to install FLS Mac on your new operating system.
In the new operating system window, open Safari and go to http://familylawsoftware.com/update/ and download the Mac version.
2b) Install Windows 10 to run FLS
When you first run Parallels on your Mac, an Installation Assistant will appear to easily guide you through the steps to installing your virtual machine.
Simply select Get Windows 10 from Microsoft and click Continue. Then select Download Windows 10, click Continue, and follow the on-screen instructions.
NOTE: This will install an unregistered version of Windows 10. You will need to purchase a license from Microsoft or another vendor to register your copy.
Once complete, you will see a screen to select your language. This is the first screen of the Windows 10 install setup. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed to your Desktop.
Now you are ready to install FLS on your new operating system.
In your new operating system window, open the Microsoft Edge browser, go to http://familylawsoftware.com/update/, and click the Download for Windows button to download the FLS installer.
If you need further support with Parallels software, visit their support page here.