Why Mediation?
Mediation is for people who want to make decisions between themselves about their lives and the lives of their children upon separation. With my assistance you will find that you can actually get past the hurt feelings and decide on issues that are really important to both of you. You can find a common ground. The alternative is not good: imagine having complete strangers (lawyers) telling you that you must build your case by stating every slight that ever occurred; a complete stranger (parenting assessor) putting you under the microscope and analyzing how you interact with your children, looking into your medical history, talking to your childrens’ teachers and others about you and the children, evaluating you and the children and providing a report to the court; then a complete stranger (judge) decides everything for you (based on very limited information - can he/she really know you family’s situation?). I am passionate about helping separated couples take back control and make their own decisions. I have litigated family law disputes in court for 36 years and I know that it is an absolute last resort to be used only when parties have already tried mediation. I am looking forward to providing mediation services to you and to your family.
What Can Mediators Do?
30 min
Free
Intake
&
Process
1 / Initial Consult
After each you and spouse have completed the questionnaire and emailed back to me your responses I will arrange a free 30 minute call with each of you so we can get to know each other.
2 / Screening Call
I will have a brief confidential call with each of you to screen for safety and ensure that your case is appropriate for mediation.
3 / Next Steps
If your case is deemed appropriate for mediation then we will have a Zoom meeting or telephone call to discuss my fees and the number of hours you both agree to spend in mediation and the individuals that you wish to have involved.
4/ Retainer
Upon signing the Mediation Retainer Agreement you each pay the agreed upon fee before mediation will commence.
5/ Concluding Mediation
Upon the conclusion of mediation, I will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding/draft separation agreement. This document is not a legally binding document. To become a legally binding separation agreement you must each have it reviewed by a lawyer who will provide you with independent Legal Advice on this Agreement and it will be signed by each of you and witnesses by them. (You will be provided with a list of lawyers with whom I have worked in the past, who can provide you with ILA).