Why Family Mediation
Family mediation is vital to help spouses and kids reach a fair agreement in a smooth, fast, and efficient manner without having to spend months in court proceedings. According to the Canadian Legal Fees Survey, the actual cost for divorce when it’s taken to court could cost you over $50,000.
In many cases, disputes appear unfixable simply because communication between two people has broken down. Mediation offers an opportunity to rebuild that communication by bringing everyone involved together on neutral ground. To ensure fairness during this process, all sessions are conducted by an impartial third-party known as the mediator.
Why Choose mediation
- Greater Control. Mediation increases the control parties have over the resolution.
- It’s Confidential. Unlike the potential publicity of court proceedings, everything said during mediation is entirely confidential (unless specifically agreed otherwise).
- It’s Voluntary. Mediation is a voluntary process. Both parties must agree to participate and neither party can force the other to engage in mediation.
- Reduced Costs. Generally, the cost is greatly reduced in comparison to settling disputes through court. Traditional litigation is very expensive, and the total cost is highly unpredictable.
- Faster Outcome. Because mediation can be used early in a dispute, an agreement can usually be reached quicker than if pursued through court.
- Support. Mediators are trained in working with difficult situations. The mediator acts as a neutral facilitator and supports each party through the process.
- Preservation of Relationships. The preservation of relationships can be a key benefit of mediation. Mediation helps participants focus on effectively communicating with each other as opposed to attacking each other. This is especially important when there are children, and spouses need to keep the communication going in order to ensure that both parents are focusing on the child’s best interests.