Family Mediation

Family mediation is a process used by separated or divorcing couples who want to resolve their legal issues without going to court.

Two of the common issues include decisions about children and money:

Parenting Arrangements:

• Where children will live
• Parental responsibilities
• Child Support

As children get older, their needs and schedules change. Mediation is helpful when arrangements you’ve made previously, need to change.

Dividing family property and debt:

• Selling the family home
• Investment properties
• Excluded property, some examples include
  • property and money brought into your relationship
  • inheritances and/or gifts you received during your relationship
• Pensions

Mediation takes place in a private setting and the parties, together, decide what they want the end result to look like.

The mediator does NOT:

• Make any judgements
• Take sides
• Give legal or personal advice

The mediator DOES:

• Provide information about the law
• Assist each party to reach a voluntary, negotiated resolution
• Ask questions to prompt ideas and options
• Remind you to look at the bigger picture
• Present reality checks to help you recognize the truth about your situation
• Prepare the parties and explains process so all are comfortable

If you go to court to sort out your issues, the judge will make the decisions for you. If you do not agree with the judge’s decisions, you will still need to abide by the court order.

Mediation can help you stay in control. No one will make you do anything you don’t want to. The mediator will help you find a solution that works for you and your family.

Remember:

• Most people who start and continue with mediation will reach agreement without having to go to court.
• If you have already started a court case, it’s not too late, you can still mediate.
• If you have a lawyer, you can still mediate.
• Your ex is welcome to call me for a free 10-minute consult
• I offer a one hour information session, before the process starts to give you an opportunity to meet with me, together with your ex, to ask questions. This meeting only takes place after the free phone consultation.
• Shuttle mediation is an option. This is when one or both of you do not want to be in the same room together but still want to work things out. I go back and forth between the rooms.
• Mediation is voluntary and all parties must agree to the process or it cannot proceed.