Author Archive: live4family

There is something about how few people are aware that there are alternative routes to resolving a family law dispute that never ceases to amaze me, despite the fact that the behemoth of the family law system is struggling to keep up with the demands of the modern world as a result of recent budget cuts that have left it underfunded and far too dependent on adversarial approaches to resolve family law disputes.

The use of collaborative law (in conjunction with adequately competent attorneys), early neutral evaluation (to obtain a legal opinion from a senior lawyer or judge), arbitration (to obtain an out-of-court decision on a matter), and the use of direct access barristers are a few examples of these strategies. (more…)

The majority of the time, when I asked clients who were contacting me for the first time if they knew what mediation was about, the response was “not really.” Now, I find that clients who approach me are aware of what mediation is and have either made an independent choice that it is the best course of action for them, or have been sent to mediation by a lawyer. However, little is known about kid inclusive mediation, which may be a very beneficial tool for parents as well as an empowering experience for their child or children if done properly and with care.

What is child-inclusive mediation and how does it work?

The possibility (and frequently the wisdom) for parents’ children to speak with the mediator while they are using mediation (and maybe even when they are not) to talk about what happens next for them and their child(ren), in light of their separation, exists. This gives the youngster the opportunity to have a say in what will happen next in the situation. (more…)