mediation

Mediating Separation While Living Together: How to Keep the Peace and Move Forward

Negotiating a separation while still living together isn’t easy, but it’s possible to keep the peace. Get practical tips on mediating divorce issues under one roof—respect boundaries, protect your kids from the fallout, and turn tension into cooperation.

read

How to Calculate Child Support in Ontario

Child support ensures that children continue to be financially supported by both parents, even after separation or divorce. In Ontario, child support calculations are based on the Federal Child Support Guidelines and include both a basic amount for living expenses and special expenses for things like medical care and education. Payments are typically based on the paying parent’s gross income, and support is payable even in 50-50 custody arrangements.

read

Understanding the Cost of Divorce

Expenses associated with divorce can vary - anywhere from $5,000 for mediation to $30,000 for litigation. Understanding the factors that lead to this difference can help you take control of your separation, keep costs low, and avoid a prolonged court battle.

read

The Dangers of Putting Your Ex Down in Front of Children

Separation and divorce can be emotionally charged, leading some individuals to express their frustrations by putting their ex-spouse down, especially in front of their children. However, this harmful behavior can have lasting negative consequences for both the children and the co-parenting relationship. In this blog, we will explore the dangers of speaking negatively about one's ex-partner in front of children and highlight the importance of fostering a healthy co-parenting dynamic during and after separation.

read

15 Years Later, My Son Thanked Me and My Ex for Using Mediation

Divorce can be an incredibly difficult and emotional process, especially when children are involved. As a mother who has been through mediation during my divorce, I can attest to the fact that it is not an easy journey. However, looking back on the experience now, I am incredibly grateful that I chose to take the collaborative approach with my ex-husband.

read

Negotiating Tools in Mediation

Divorce mediation can be a challenging and emotional process, but there are a variety of negotiating tools that can help you reach a resolution that works for both you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. Some negotiating tools that may be useful in a divorce mediation are active listening, identifying interests, brainstorming, compromise, reality testing, and of course the mediator, as they can provide a neutral perspective and facilitate the discussion.

read

Mediation: Know Your Options

Mediation has become very popular because it’s less expensive, more efficient and less antagonistic than the court system. Our team has diverse backgrounds and experience in mental health and family law. We will work with you individually or as a team, and will attend all sessions, review your documents, provide guidance, and help generate options for the best-possible outcome for your family.

read

Using "I" Statements in Mediation to Find Solutions and Avoid Conflict

Divorce mediation can be a challenging process, as emotions can often run high. Using "I" statements is an effective communication technique that can help keep the conversation focused on finding solutions and avoiding conflict.

read

What is Custody?

Given its negative connotation and confusion, the term “custody” has been replaced with “decision-making responsibility”. Decision-making responsibility refers to the parental right to make the major decisions in your child’s life: education; health; culture, language, religion and spirituality; and significant extra-curricular activities. You and your co-parent can come up with your own parenting arrangements through mediation or collaborative process. When you do, make sure you put them in writing in a separation agreement or parenting plan, so as to avoid any miscommunication or future conflict.

read

4 Key Skills To Help in Mediation

Don’t be surprised if you feel frustrated or angry upon hearing different points of view, hearing proposals you don’t like, and having to think of alternatives. Remember that most conflicts are resolved through this process of talking and listening and creating solutions. Prepare yourself to deal with any possible difficult moments.

read

What is Your Lawyer Telling You About Divorce and Mediation?

Divorce mediation is becoming the popular choice for families who want to save money, time and their co-parenting relationship. The reality is, that if you have children, court should be your last resort. If you hire a lawyer, will they tell you that?According to their Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers have an obligation to inform clients of the use of mediation ( or alternative dispute resolution (ADR)): “When appropriate, the lawyer should inform the client of ADR options and, if so instructed, take steps to pursue those options.”

read

What’s the difference between Mediation and Litigation?

What is the difference between divorce mediation and divorce litigation, a.k.a. going to court? The difference are many and include implications with cost, time, privacy, control, resolution, and more. In this article, we break down the differences for you.

read

Family Court: Well-known Judge Tells You What You Need to Know, Before You Head that Way.

Family Court Judge, Harvey Brownstone, warns families about going to court. Ask anyone who has ever appeared in family court as a litigant – even if they had a lawyer – and they are almost certain to describe their experience as unsatisfactory. Why? What can be done to help people so that their family court experience is more predictable, more positive and constructive, less time-consuming, and consequently more beneficial to themselves and their children? An even more important question is, What can be done to help people avoid going to court in the first place?

read