Effective Conflict Resolution

Family Mediation:

Family Mediation, also called Divorce Mediation, helps resolve child custody, child access, income determination, child support, spousal support, division of property, marriage contracts and other issues arising on cohabitation, marriage, separation or death. Benefits of Family Mediation:

• Lets parties control their own separation process
• Is confidential, keeping the details of your separation out of a public court file
• Can be far less expensive than litigation or even lawyer-to-lawyer negotiation
• Allows parties to negotiate a separation agreement
• Can reduce conflict and stress for you, your ex and your children
• Can help promote a positive, long-term relationship between you and your ex. Research shows that children can suffer long-term harm, even as adults, as a result of separation-related conflict between their parents.

You do not need to have a lawyer to come to family mediation, but you do need to obtain legal advice before you can finalize an agreement.

Family Arbitration:

Family arbitration helps resolve child custody, child access, income determination, child support, spousal support, division of property, and other issues arising from your separation. Family arbitration is like selecting your own private judge who will make a final ruling on all outstanding issues between you and your ex spouse. Benefits of Family arbitration:

• Can resolve all separation and divorce-related issues
• Lets you tell your story and make your arguments before a qualified private judge
• Results in a legally binding decision
• Lets you choose your own decision-maker and design your own process
• Can be faster and less expensive than going to court
• Is confidential
• When combined with family mediation, lets parties try to reach their own agreement before the family arbitrator makes the decision for them.

Parenting Coordination:

• Helps parents resolve conflicts arising out of their separation agreement, arbitration decision or court order
• Promotes better communication and decision-making skills for parents
• Provides an effective process for resolving conflicts between parents
• Allows parents to choose their own qualified professional

Hilary Linton is the owner and founder of Riverdale Mediation. A former family and civil litigator, she is now an internationally respected family mediator, arbitrator and mediation trainer. She specializes in helping families in conflict during separation and divorce work together, in a safe, practical and effective way, to resolve the most difficult disputes.

Elizabeth Hyde, of Medius Dispute Resolutions, contracts with Riverdale to provide highly effective parenting coordination services to separating couples who need assistance managing their parenting plans, along with mediation and arbitration services. Also a former family litigator, Elizabeth now provides family mediation, arbitration, parenting coordination, and contract management services through Medius Dispute Resolutions.

The Honourable Clifford Nelson, now retired from his role as a family court judge in the Superior Court of Justice, brings many years of experience of settlement-focused work to his new role as a family mediator and arbitrator.

When choosing the professionals to guide you through this critical time in your life, competence and experience count. Work with our team at Riverdale Mediation — seasoned alternate dispute resolution professionals with backgrounds in family law — for a process you can trust.