Family Mediation is an “alternative” to court litigation and an effective way of achieving a resolution that is satisfactory to all parties involved.
At Russell Alexander Family Lawyers, our goal is to resolve your family law issues in a way that is most efficient, agreeable to the parties, and cost-effective. This means we regularly engage in negotiations on behalf of our clients.
In some cases, our clients will use the services of a mediator to help them come to an agreement on some issues, but parties must be aware that a mediator cannot provide either party with legal advice. The role of a mediator is only to facilitate discussion between the two spouses. Therefore, it is a good idea to get independent legal advice prior to signing any agreement.
While we encourage clients to use mediation or another form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) in most cases, ADR is not appropriate; notably in cases where there is a power imbalance, a history of domestic violence, or where the parties simply cannot cooperate.
Where ADR is appropriate, it provides the following advantages:
- It provides more control to the parties for resolving their issues
- It is more cost-effective than going to court
- It is usually much quicker than the court process
- It can be less invasive and more comfortable than going to court
If you are interested in finding out more about the use of mediation or ADR in family disputes, contact our lawyers to discuss your options.
