In family law mediation, separating spouses work with a trained, neutral third party known as a mediator to reach an agreement on some or all of their family law issues. The mediator’s role is to listen to both sides of the story and, without bias, help the two of you find some middle ground you can live with. We work with several qualified, skilled mediators, and are able to recommend the right individual to work with you. While some spouses attend mediation without their lawyers, in our experience, it can be extremely helpful for your lawyers to be present, so that we can support you and advise on your legal rights and obligations throughout the process.

Mediation offers many of the same advantages as collaborative family law: it is cheaper, less antagonistic, less formal, and more efficient than going to court. As well, it is a private process, unlike litigation which is public. An additional advantage over a collaborative approach is that there is a third party with expertise in both family law and mediation whose job it is to keep the process on track and moving forward.

Mediation will be appropriate for many of the same people who are considering a collaborative law or negotiated approach.  A history of family violence is not necessarily a bar to mediation if the proper safety precautions are taken.