Family Mediation Service Niagara

Niagara Family Mediation Service

Professional Family Mediation Services near Niagara

What is Family Mediation?

How Family Mediation Helps

Separation can be a painful, challenging process. Family mediation is ultimately designed to make the process less difficult, by creating an environment that will allow both parties to dissolve their partnership amicably. With family mediation, a qualified impartial professional will facilitate collaboration between you and your ex-partner and help you both reach legally binding agreements on all aspects of your separation, from assets to childcare.

Together with your ex-spouse/partmer, you will build a fair, sustainable agreement that reflects both of your interests, and leave the process with a clear roadmap for moving forward.

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What is Mediation?

How Mediation Assists With Divorce

Mediation is a process led by a highly qualified, experienced and impartial professional who will help you and your ex-partner come to agreements on all aspects of your separation.
 
Your divorce mediator’s role is to facilitate conversation, explain the laws surrounding your separation, and draft documents outlining the terms agreed upon by both parties. You will leave the process with a legally binding Separation Agreement and Parenting Plan, if needed.
 
A commonly asked question amongst splitting spouses is, “What is Divorce Mediation?” Divorce Mediation provides an alternative route to the traditional litigation process, lead by a mediator instead of lawyer. A mediator is a qualified trained professional that will help spouses respectfully and fairly negotiate family terms. These challenging areas of focus typically include; the division of assets, child or spousal support, child access, parenting plans, and the marital home.

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Can mediation Work for Us?

Save Time & Avoid Costs

Mediation is a confidential and non-adversarial process intended to help couples reach settlements on all issues relating to their separation. It is often the preferred choice for couples wishing to avoid the timely, costly, and emotionally draining process of litigation (family court).

• Maintain a amicable relationship with the other party
• If you would like to avoid being in family court
• Avoid unnecessary legal fees
• Parties must be willing to work together towards finding solutions
• Willing to listen to the other party
• Be able to communicate your wants and needs
• If there are children involved, keep their best interests in mind
• Willing to move forward with the separation
• Willing to provide full financial disclosure to the other party

As professional mediators, our job is to provide a safe space for couples to discuss the terms of their separation and facilitate productive conversations that ensure both parties are heard, understood, and respected. Our family-first approach has proven to help couples reach an amicable and mutually acceptable agreement together – ensuring you can decide your future, and not a third party or judge.

Online Family Mediation in Niagara

Family Mediation Online Services For Niagara

Online Family Mediation

Vitual Assistance Available

Due to current social restrictions online family mediation is becoming more sought after. Family Mediators are now having their meetings using Zoom software to allow for all parties to collaborate and work together to find resolutions for their Separation Agreement. Our mediators at Turning Point Family Mediation have become experts at coordinating these online family mediations and have found that screen sharing has been extremely helpful to review all financial documents with clients. 
 
As an option, we can provide secure online video mediations (via the Zoom video platform) for couples seeking an alternative to in person meetings. Whether you are unable to travel to one of our several office locations, or you do not wish to attend a mediation in person, this convenient solution will help you complete the mediation process from the comfort and security of your home.
 
The Online Family Mediation process provides spouses/partners and their families with control when resolving any existing issues. Any present family or relationship issues are not heightened during the mediation process, but rather settled with the best interest of all parties in mind. In addition to this, the mediation process will be less costly than dealing with endless legal fees when going through litigation. This amicable process will guarantee that all parties work collaboratively and cooperatively with the assistance of a mediator. Both spouses in the mediation will experience a clear, fair, and respectful process towards a finalized divorce.

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An Amicable Process

Within Family Mediation, a divorce mediator will require both spouses to agree upon and sign a Separation Agreement, which best suits both parties involved. Throughout the process, the mediator will remain as a neutral 3rd party to simply assist the direction of the ongoing negotiations, by ensuring that both spouses are being heard, understood, respected, and satisfied. It is important to note that the mediator does not make any of the decisions – all decisions are made by the two spouses involved. The divorce mediator will simply guide the conversation to be as constructive and respectful as possible. The mediator is present to ensure all the right questions are being asked, both parties are equally being heard, and the best solutions are being settled upon. In order for Family Mediation to run smoothly, both parties must agree upon not hiring a lawyer, but instead mutually and voluntarily engaging with the specified mediator; although, in some cases, spouses will desire to hire a lawyer to assist their negotiations. However, this is not necessary. Prior to the mediation commencing, both spouses are advised to receive Independent Legal Advice (ILA) from a lawyer to learn more about their legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations before signing any legal document presented. Being provided with ILA prior to the mediations, spouses will have better legal control, understanding, and respect of any future terms that is established and maintained throughout the mediation process. Ultimately, the mediation process aims to provide both parties with a safe and equal space to negotiate future standings. 
 
The Family Mediation process provides spouses and their families with control when resolving any existing issues. Any present family or relationship issues are not heightened during the mediation process, but rather settled with the best interest of all parties in mind. In addition to this, the mediation process will be less costly than dealing with endless legal fees when going through litigation. This amicable process will guarantee that all parties work collaboratively and cooperatively with the assistance of a mediator. Both spouses in the mediation will experience a clear, fair, and respectful process towards a finalized divorce.  
 
In Niagara, the Family Mediation process is becoming increasingly popular and is even highly encouraged by the courts when creating a Separation or Divorce Agreement. A Separation Agreement created and signed during Family Mediation with a divorce mediator is legal, binding, and enforceable. Therefore, the Family Mediation process is not any less legal than going through litigation. However, it is far less confusing, expensive, and time consuming for couples to endure. Typically, the Family Mediation process can be much quicker than taking your case to court or using a collaborative lawyer – the difference can be weeks compared to months or even years. 
 
To add, it is important for individuals to understand that all voices will be heard during mediation. Although some may arrive with dominating personalities, while some spouses are more timid and shy, the mediator will ensure that all parties are heard and understood. Divorce mediators are specially trained to ensure that all voices are heard and no one is overshadowed or intimidated during negotiations. In addition to this, divorce mediators work simultaneously with specialized financial mediators to properly divide and protect all of the financial assets involved in the marriage. Truthfully, many Divorce Agreements revolve around finances, planning for retirement, and future tax implications; therefore, dealing with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) is in the best interest of both parties involved. 

It is normal for some spouses to be resistant or unwilling to partake in Divorce Mediation. The first step is always introduce the benefits and variations of the mediation process. There are various mediation routes available to couples to meet their specific needs, such as; mediation for couples with and without children, mediation with a financial emphasis, and even mediation sessions for couples who require a lawyer present. Once your spouse has agreed to participate in the process, the next step is to simply try and be amicable for the process to run smoothly and be successful in a short period of time. After all, mediation was built to assist parties in quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively creating an agreement that everyone is happy. It is important to note that with Divorce Mediation, couples are required to be within the same room to communicate and negotiate their interests, needs, and concerns to best formulate a Separation Agreement. Therefore, it would be in the best interest of both parties if they are civil, amicable, and respectful towards one another. The process may be challenging and more time consuming when this is not the nature of the relationship; however, it is not impossible to overcome. 
 
Sometimes couples require additional assistance with communicating and negotiating terms, this is where the mediator can present their skills and expertise. However, if this still does not resolve any issues, then Collaborative Mediation should be considered. Collaborative Mediation is an equal process to regular Divorce Mediation, although a collaborative lawyer is brought to the table to better deal with major complexities of existing conflicts. Though Collaborative Mediation is suggested when great conflict is present between spouses, it is more expensive than Divorce Mediation, as another professional is brought into the negotiations.   
 
The most common way to encourage your spouse to partake in Divorce Mediation when found resistant or unwilling to settle without a judge or lawyer present, is to consider paying for your spouse’s Divorce Mediation retainer. A typical response of disinterest in the mediation process is, “I can’t afford to participate in mediation.” Therefore, a simple resolution is to pay the initial fee for your spouse, so they can experience first-hand the benefits and simplicity of the mediation process. Though, once your spouse agrees to participate in the mediation process, the money will be returned in full when listed on the Separation Agreement. During the negotiations, spouses are required to divide and equalize all financial assets and debts. Therefore, the money will more often than not be returned in full. Although, the inexpensive mediation retainer will still be much less than any fee made for a Contested Divorce. In Canada, the average cost of a Contested Divorce is anywhere between $27,000 and $45,000. The initial retainer paid to an individual lawyer will be more expensive than the total cost of the entire mediation process. In addition to the significant difference in cost, a Contested Divorce usually lasts two years with the court; whereas, a Mediation Divorce can be settled within weeks.

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Multiple Locations To Serve You

Turning Point Family Mediation has many locations across Niagara, if you prefer to find a mediator near you to meet in person, rather than meeting online. Turning Point Family Mediation has multiple options for you, depending on where you are located. In person mediation can make individuals feel more comfortable and provide some closure for the relationship, it all comes down to a personal preference.

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Help That’s Close To Home

The Family Mediators role is to facilitate the client’s conversations, to explain and present the family laws in detail to the individuals and to draft their separation agreement. To add, it is important for individuals to understand that all voices will be heard during mediation. Although some may arrive with dominating personalities, while some spouses are more timid and shy, the mediator will ensure that all parties are heard and understood. Divorce mediators are specially trained to ensure that all voices are heard and no one is overshadowed or intimidated during negotiations. In addition to this, divorce mediators work simultaneously with specialized financial mediators to properly divide and protect all of the financial assets involved in the marriage. Truthfully, many Divorce Agreements revolve around finances, planning for retirement, and future tax implications; therefore, dealing with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) is in the best interest of both parties involved. 
 
The main purpose of Family Mediation is to settle any existing issues and problems that splitting couples have not yet agreed upon. The process will assist couples in negotiating, compromising, and resolving issues that may seem impossible without the assistance of a professional. Although, it is important to note that a divorce mediator is not a personal therapist or a relationship counsellor. A mediator will use their trained skills to help facilitate resolutions and conversations between spouses, to ensure a healthy post-marriage relationship. The goal of Family Mediation is not to talk through issues, but rather to locate compromising and satisfying solutions to ensure the individual success of both spouses in the future. A mediator is present to help find solutions for everyone involved, while guaranteeing that your Separation Agreement and Divorce Agreement is binding and enforceable in the future.

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*Please see the litigation vs family mediation table on our current website under the about mediation page.