Mediation

Mediation is a confidential process where a neutral mediator facilitates disclosure and discussion to help you reach resolution. A family mediator will help you reach a negotiated settlement about parenting, property and debt division and financial support.

The mediator provides a supportive and organized environment to help you talk to one another and will keep the process moving along. A mediator does not act for or represent anyone in the mediation.

Even though Debbie is an experienced family law lawyer, she will only provide you with legal information, not legal advice, while mediating. Debbie will always recommend that you and your spouse each seek legal advice from your own lawyer during the mediation process.

Collaborative Family Law

In Collaborative Practice we create an environment that will facilitate respectful communication, timely disclosure and settlement. The process will result in a binding contract - a separation agreement or cohabitation/pre-nuptial agreement, depending on your circumstances.

To start the process, each spouse hires a collaborative lawyer and we all sign an agreement to be settlement focussed, provide information necessary for good decision making, and forego access to court while we collaborate. This means there will be no threat of court during the process.

Collaborative Team Practice often includes a family professional who will work with you and your spouse to develop a parenting plan for the children, and a financial professional who will assist in valuing a business, or assist in determining income. Obtaining the assistance of a family or financial professional is a cost effective way to ensure you have all the information you both need to make a fully informed decisions.

Check out my blog to learn more.

Results

Collaborative Practice and Mediation are both designed to manage conflict and achieve settlement.

Collaborative Practice

Separation Agreement: a contract that is signed when you’ve completed the process.

Divorce: an order that is provided by the court and is applied for by consent on an “uncontested” basis at the end of the process.

mediation

Minutes of Settlement: a record of the agreements you’ve reached in mediation. Debbie can also draft a separation agreement you and your former spouse can each take separate lawyers to receive independent legal advice before signing.

independent legal advice AND DRAFTING AGREEMENTS

Debbie is happy to provide legal advice to individuals participating in mediation with a different mediator either before, during or after the mediation. She will assist in reviewing or drafting a separation agreement based on minutes of settlement.

Debbie will also draft cohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements or provide independent legal advice if you’ve negotiated such an agreement with your partner.

coaching

If you want to talk to an experienced family law lawyer about your situation before making a major change like moving in together or separating, arrange for a consultation.

Debbie will help you understand your options, what the law says, and give you advice and tips about communicating with your spouse and children during and after separation.