Family mediation

Family mediation enquiries: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Nunavut. View scope and availability ↗

Issues we can explore.

These are examples of matters to discuss at intake. We will consider the people involved, the scope of the dispute and whether mediation is a suitable process.

• Parenting schedules

  Work through school weeks, weekends and time with each parent, taking account of children’s ages, routines and individual needs.

• Holidays and special occasions

  Plan school breaks, birthdays, celebrations and vacation time, including how parents will exchange dates and handle overlaps.

• Decisions about children

  Discuss how parents will approach education, health care, activities and other important decisions, including how information will be shared.

• Parenting communication

  Develop practical expectations for messages, response times, shared calendars and raising concerns without involving children in adult disagreements.

• Exchanges and transportation

  Clarify pickup locations, travel responsibilities, delays and arrangements that make transitions between homes more predictable.

• Child support and children’s expenses

  Identify financial information and questions about support, childcare, activities and other expenses for discussion alongside independent legal advice.

• Spousal or partner support

  Explore concerns about financial transition, income information, payment arrangements and review points, informed by each person’s legal advice.

• The family home and property

  Discuss options for the home, possessions and other assets, including valuations, a possible sale or buyout, and practical timelines.

• Debts and shared expenses

  Identify concerns about joint accounts, loans, credit cards and household bills, and explore arrangements for managing them during separation.

• Travel and proposed moves

  Work through travel plans, documents, notice and the practical effects of a proposed move on children and parenting arrangements.

• Changing an existing arrangement

  Discuss what has stopped working and possible revisions. Obtain legal advice about any steps needed to change an existing agreement or court order.

• Extended family and new households

  Explore grandparents’ involvement, new partners, household boundaries and family expectations while keeping children’s needs at the centre.

Support calculators at DivorceNexus.

Organize child-support figures, section 7 expenses and spousal-support questions before mediation. Explore the available calculators and bring the inputs, assumptions and questions to your independent adviser.

The tools do not determine entitlement. Full tax-and-benefit and with-child spousal-support calculations are not yet available. Check the current coverage and limitations ↗