Family Mediation Services in Ontario, Canada.
Providing child-centred family mediation. Helping you and your former spouse navigate the process of separation and all of the decisions pertaining to your children in a timely and cost effective manner.
Why Choose Family Mediation?
Family Mediation provides the opportunity to work collaboratively and for you to have a say in the outcome. We will work to identify what is important to you and explore different options for mutual satisfaction. Mediation can be incredibly helpful in allowing you to have a voice throughout the process of your separation, gain a better understanding of each other’s viewpoints, and feel satisfaction with the final outcome. Satisfaction through the process helps to increase acceptance and longevity of the agreement.
Mediation Process
1. Consultation
Reach out to us on our contact page or by email at hello@pathwaysmediation.ca to discuss the mediation process, the expected outcome and your personal reasons for wanting to participate. It is recommended that all parties seek legal advice prior to entering mediation. We provide a free 15 minute phone consultation.
From here, we will provide you with our Intake Form and Agreement to Mediate to sign off on if you would like to proceed to next steps.
2. Intake/Screening
We will schedule separate intake meetings with each party to go over suitability for mediation and to ensure each individual is in an even negotiating position. Screening for domestic violence, abuse, power imbalances and any safety concerns will happen throughout the entire mediation process.
3. Mediation
The mediation process will begin with individual sessions so each party can freely express their perspective and topics that they would like to address. Once individual sessions are complete, we will proceed to joint sessions or caucus sessions if needed. The mediator will work to facilitate discussion on the underlying issues, concerns and goals of each party. These topics may include parenting arrangements, decision making and child support. The goal of these sessions is to come to agreements on the topics of issue.
4. Final Review/Agreement
If an agreement is reached, we will draft a Memorandum of Understanding which is the Mediator’s documentation on the points of agreement reached between the parties. This document is not legally binding.
Each party should take the Memorandum of Understanding document to their lawyer for independent legal advice. At this point the process of drafting a legal Separation Agreement based on the Memorandum of Understanding begins with your lawyer.
Providing you with a virtual safe space.
All appointments will take place virtually, to ensure safety of each party as well as flexibility with appointment times. We are located in Durham Region, Ontario, and serve all regions within the province.