Mediation is a confidential and voluntary process where a neutral third party, called a mediator, helps the individuals involved in a family dispute (such as parents, spouses, or partners) communicate and negotiate a settlement. The mediator does not make decisions for you but helps facilitate discussions and guide you toward an agreement that works for both parties.

Mediation has several benefits:

• Cost-Effective: Mediation is often less expensive than going to court.

• Less Stressful: It is generally less formal and adversarial than court proceedings, reducing stress and conflict.

• Confidential: Mediation is private, and the discussions cannot be used in court if the mediation does not result in an agreement.

• Control Over the Outcome: You and the other party have control over the decision-making process and can craft a solution that meets both of your needs. This is much better than going to Court where the decision is made by a third party and is not always customized to your particular needs and situation.

• Faster Resolution: Mediation can be scheduled more quickly than court hearings, leading to a faster resolution.

• Initial Meeting: Deryck will first meet with each party separately to understand their issues and goals.

• Joint Sessions: Deryck will then bring both parties together for a series of meetings. During these meetings, Deryck will facilitate discussions, help clarify issues, and ensure both sides have a chance to speak.

• Agreement: If an agreement is reached, Deryck will draft a Separation Agreement that outlines the terms of the agreement.

• Voluntary: Mediation is voluntary, meaning you can choose to stop the process at any time if it’s not working for you.

Mediation can help resolve many types of family law issues, including:

• Custody and Parenting Arrangements: Deciding where children will live and how time with both parents will be shared.

• Child Support: Reaching an agreement on the amount of child support to be paid.

• Spousal Support: Agreeing on financial support after separation or divorce.

• Division of Property and Assets: Sorting out how property, debts, and assets will be divided.

• Other Family Matters: Any other issues related to family relationships, including communication or financial matters.

• A mediator is an impartial professional trained to facilitate negotiations. They do not take sides, give legal advice, or make decisions for you. Instead, the mediator helps ensure that the process is respectful, balanced, and productive, and that both parties have an opportunity to express their concerns.

• As a lawyer and a mediator, Deryck is able to provide legal information to help you craft your agreement and avoid common pitfalls that people make when they draft their own agreements.

• When acting as your mediator Deryck will not give you legal advice; however, he will provide you with an evaluation of your position based on his experience. Deryck will make comments and observations about the strengths and weaknesses of each party's position, often from the perspective of the likely result if the dispute were to be resolved in court. This is particularly useful when parties reach an impasse about certain issues.

• If you cannot reach an agreement through mediation, you still have the option to go to court. Deryck cannot force you to accept an agreement, and the process is confidential, so anything discussed in mediation cannot be used in court later.

• In our experience most mediations result in substantial success.

• Even where mediation is not successful, mediation can provide the parties with greater clarity on the issues that the parties must resolve and what steps need to be taken before an agreement can be reached.