Getting Started in Family Mediation, Family Arbitration or Parenting Coordination

It is always our preference to have the respective lawyers present at family mediations. However, not everyone can afford to pay their lawyer to attend, nor even to have a lawyer. We work with people whether they have lawyers or not.

Your first meeting will be scheduled for a date convenient for both parties, (lawyers), the mediator and the intern. If lawyers are not involved, or if the mediator does not have an online calendar, please send your preferred choices to [email protected]. We will do our best to accommodate your preferences. We do not schedule mediations on weekends; evenings may be available on request. You will be expected to pay for your share of the mediation at the end of the session.

All parties attending arbitration are required, by law, to first participate in “screening” for power imbalances [to see if there is danger of family violence or other threats to you or other members of your family] before signing the Arbitration Agreement. For mediation-arbitration processes, we conduct our own screening process, and it forms part of the individual intake meetings described above. For arbitration-alone processes, we will provide the lawyers with the names of the third party “screeners” with whom we work, and you will need to each meet separately with this person before signing the Arbitration Agreement. It is important to know that, even though you, the other party and your lawyers have decided to try mediation-arbitration or arbitration, it is our job to assess whether we feel the case is an appropriate one for that process. Not all cases are suited to out-of-court dispute resolution; this is what the intake process is intended to assess.

The lawyers must finalize the Family (Mediation) Arbitration Agreement before the first first mediation meeting takes place. Once the agreement is signed, the mediator-arbitrator and their lawyers will meet in person or by phone to determine the procedural details of the arbitration process.

In arbitration or mediation-arbitration, we require retainers. The amount will be determined after the individual intake meetings and will generally be payable at the first mediation, to be held for the arbitration. The amount will depend on the complexity of the case.

Parenting Coordination takes place after there is already a Separation Agreement or Parenting Plan in place. Such agreements will often provide that the parties consent to work with a Parenting Coordinator to resolve identified matters in the future. To get started, complete the intake forms on our website and send a copy of your Separation Agreement or Parenting Plan that provides for a Parenting Coordinator and describes the Parenting Coordinator’s jurisdiction. We will set up intake/screening meetings (see 1 to 3 above). It is important for you to know that, even though you, the other person and your lawyers may have decided to try parenting coordination, it is our job to assess whether it is an appropriate case for this process. Not all people or situations are suited to private dispute resolution, and the intake meetings are intended to help us make this assessment.

After the intake meetings, the Parenting Coordination agreement will need to be signed by each of you, ensuring that the jurisdiction provided to the Parenting Coordinator and the other terms of the contract are agreeable to both parties.

We do require deposits for Parenting Coordination files. Your Parenting Coordinator will advise you of the amount.