The Mediation Centre
Serving Hamilton, Halton, Brant, Niagara and Surrounding Communities
The Mediation Centre Serving Hamilton, Halton, Brant, Niagara and Surrounding Communities |
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Family Mediation"Who will the children live with and when will I see them?" "What shall we do about our line of credit and our other assets and debts?" What is Family Mediation?Family mediation is a voluntary method of resolving the issues arising out of a separation or divorce. The family mediator helps the separating partners identify issues that they need to sort through and to work out their own solution. What Issues can be Addressed in Family Mediation?Any issue arising out of a separation or divorce can be mediated including a parenting plan for the children, child support, spousal support and the division of property. The family mediator will help each parent identify what problems or issues need to be resolved and how they will continue to carry out their parenting roles and responsibilities. A family mediator can also deal with any financial arrangements that will need to be made such as support payments and the division of the property that they own. What are the Benefits of Mediation?Family mediation is a non-adversarial alternative to or a complement to litigation and has the potential benefits of saving time, costs, reducing conflict and preserving relationships. While participating in family mediation, the parties often learn improved ways to communicating with each other. In family mediation, the parties are the primary decision makers and can thus create the plan and arrangements that best suit their unique family situation. Family mediation provides the parties with a significant amount of control over the process and the parties may find family mediation more satisfying because they are the ones making their own decisions and arriving at an agreement. You may be able to anticipate future changes in your own lives and those of the children, and consider how these scenarios can be addressed. Is Legal Advice Necessary?Legal advice is strongly recommended when participating in family mediation and certainly prior to signing any agreement with respect to issues arising out of a separation or divorce. The family mediator will educate the parties with respect to issues such as parenting plans, child support, spousal support, division of property, child custody and child access, but will not provide legal advice or draft an agreement for the parties to sign. The
Mediation Centre - 46
Jackson St. East, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 1L1
Voice: 905-526-8446 | Fax: 905-526-8580 | e-mail: centre@mediation.on.ca Web site and all contents © Copyright Mediation Centre 2005, All rights reserved. |