At Connect, we have learned that not all family law problems require the same solution. Some clients face complicated legal questions; others are dealing with more clear-cut or discrete family law issues. Some separating spouses can work together cooperatively; others can’t. Connect strives to do family law differently.
This website describes the value of mediation and the services our mediators offer in Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kelowna and virtually throughout the Province of BC.
We have four family lawyers working with us, Leisha Murphy, Rebecca Stanley, Geeta Gill and Mark Chiu, who are certified family meditators and who can be retained to help separating couples navigate their way through an often complex and emotionally charged time in their lives.
In family law mediation, separating spouses work with a trained, neutral third party known as a mediator to reach an agreement on some or all of their family law issues.
The mediator’s role is to listen to both sides of the story and, without bias, help the two of you discern your true interests, communicate with each other and creatively agree on a solution that will allow you to move forward. Mediation can occur either on your own as a separating couple or with two lawyers present to advise in real time.
By definition, a mediator is “one who goes between,” guiding the process and facilitating discussion while you and your former spouse jointly resolve your concerns. Our mediators take great care in creating a private and supportive setting to help you reach an outcome that best satisfies everyone.
They are committed to providing a structure for difficult conversations and caring, and impartial attentiveness to both spouses as you work to figure out how to forge a path forward. Their practice is to establish a safe, healthy environment where you and your separating spouse can communicate face-to-face so that agreements reached are durable and long-lasting.
Mediation offers many of the same advantages as collaborative family law: it is cheaper, less antagonistic, less formal, and more efficient than going to court.
As well, it is a private process, unlike litigation which is public. It is voluntary and provides you and your separating spouse with the space to work together on creative solutions that might not even be possible in court. We believe that families are better off if couples make decisions together which will affect their futures, rather than relying on third party strangers, such as judges, to make decisions for them.
A mediator can assist in this process to ensure the needs of both people are considered and the conversations remain solution and future-focused.
Mediation will be appropriate for many of the same people who are considering a collaborative or negotiated approach. A history of family violence is not necessarily a bar to mediation if the proper safety precautions are taken; in appropriate circumstances, mediation can occur by the mediator “shuttling” between rooms.
If you have questions as to whether mediation is a good option for you, please contact us to discuss.
We’re here to help. Made up of a team of mediation professionals, we can help you resolve conflicts at all stages, whether a dispute is just emerging, or a trial is coming up.