Mediation
Divorce is never a situation anyone wants to be in, and it often comes with a lot of difficulty and frustration. Issues and disagreements are, for the most part, inevitable, but this doesn’t mean you need a long and lengthy court battle! Divorce mediation in Ottawa is a viable and popular option for many couples – it’s usually cheaper and has so many benefits.
Family Mediation Ottawa
Also known as family mediation, divorce mediation is a process in which both parties talk, discuss, and negotiate their situation with the help of a neutral third party. This is usually a family lawyer or a specially trained mediator.
At the end of the process, you’ll have an agreement that everyone is happy with. Even though it happens out of court, the agreement is legally binding for both parties.
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Mediation
Who is Divorce Mediation for?
Most people love the idea of mediation over court because it’s so much faster and easier. In fact, it’s required by Canadian law that lawyers present their clients with mediation as an option before going to court. It covers all the same things that a court would, such as custody, visitation rights, child support, spousal support, and more.
It’s suitable for most couples:
- With or without children
- With any amount of shared assets, savings, or debt
- Together for any length of time
- Who don’t want to avoid court and/or can’t afford it
Although rare, there are some cases where divorce mediation may not be appropriate, or won’t end up working. It all depends on the people involved. Consider the following before pursuing family meditation:
- Safety. If there has been abuse, violence, and/or serious threats of danger within the relationship, in-person mediation likely won’t be productive or appropriate.
- Compromise. Unlike in court, both couples must agree on the outcome. This will often require compromise from both parties, so they must be willing to go in with an open mind.
- Honesty. If either party is lying, falsely accusing the other, or hiding assets, it will be hard to mediate successfully.
Benefits of Divorce Mediation
There’s nothing easy about separation and divorce. It affects all parties involved and it makes dealing with family issues more complex. Separate Simply is here to simplify it all and remove some of your stress. Family mediation with a neutral third party offers reasonable conflict resolution and facilitates healthy communication.
This comes with many benefits, especially when compared with taking the case to court:
- Cheaper. This is a massive relief for some people, as going to court gets expensive fast!
- Faster. This is also huge – time is valuable, and long, drawn-out court battles are stressful and tiresome for all.
- Better for your children. Kids are easily affected by tension and fighting between their parents. Divorce mediation minimizes this significantly.
- More compliance. Because a mutual agreement is reached, the chances of both parties adhering to it are higher than if something was forced on one or both.
- It’s private. Not only is a courtroom a public place that anyone can walk into, but documents go into the public record. By choosing family mediation instead, your entire situation is kept private.
- More control. With family mediation, you as a couple have the final say over the results. In court, a judge must adhere to strict laws, and they get to make the final decision. Mediation allows you to create a customized, creative solution on your terms.
Reach out to Learn More
We understand how difficult separation and divorce are for everyone. We’re here to guide you onto the right path in an easy and agreeable way. Family mediation is a service we’re proud to offer as we help you transition into the next chapter of your life. Please don’t hesitate to reach out today for more information and to receive a quote.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Any family lawyer can act as a mediator. This is a good option if you have a lawyer you like, trust, and who is familiar with your family and your case. It’s important to ensure they are able to remain impartial and objective, however. If you don’t already have someone suitable, we have a few options here at Separate Simply. There are strict standards for becoming a mediator, and our mediators meet all the qualifications, and then some. They are highly trained and extremely knowledgeable in family law. They’re also completely impartial while always remaining compassionate.
Divorce mediation can get expensive if you have a lot to sort out. However, even in lengthier cases, it’s almost always cheaper than going to court. The average mediation case costs under $9000 while going to court can cost up to $25,000 or more. For more complicated cases, the court becomes extremely expensive very fast. The cost of mediation varies depending on how much time you take and how many sessions you need, but it’s still far more affordable than going to court.
For yourself, it’s best to come into mediation with an open mind and ready to compromise. It’s also important that you’re prepared to remain civil and polite in all circumstances. There is no “winning” when it comes to mediation, so don’t approach it with that mindset, either. Lastly, come into your first session with a good idea of the specific issues you want to be resolved. From a practical standpoint, it’s important you come prepared with all necessary and relevant documents. This includes things like invoices, financial statements, reports, and anything else you feel you need to support your position.
