By Douglas J. Manning, Partner, Certified Specialist in Family Law
There has been some press coverage over the past couple of months about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s marital breakup and their fight about the children. However, the amount of coverage has been far less than in a lot of Hollywood divorce cases.…
Thomas Dart, Partner, Family Law
We have all experienced the breakdown of a relationship whether it is our own or whether it is the relationship of people we know and love. The traditional way of handling the breakdown is to have each party go to a lawyer, obtain legal advice about their rights and…
Jodi Armstrong, Partner, Family Law
There are certainly some similarities between a mediation report and a separation agreement: both documents outline agreed upon terms and both, at least appear, to have an air of finality about them. Why then, once parties have gone through the mediation process and have received a final report setting…
Kim Kieller, partner Family Law
By now most of the public is aware that there are several ways to settle any dispute – whether it be a family breakdown, a corporate shareholder dispute or an employment contract disagreement. Historically, the parties would prepare their materials and let a third party – a judge &ndash…
Thomas Dart, Partner, Family Law.
Lawyers who are also mediators are almost schizophrenic. As advocates, they have to pretend that they are, in effect, at war with the other side, a war which must be conducted with “civility”, but war nonetheless. As mediators, they have to find peace. So should family law be conducted…
This week, let me digress a bit from the family law field, although I think this topic is directly related to the issues we mediators face on a daily basis. If any of you have watched the Rick Mercer report on CBC television, you are undoubtedly a fan of his “weekly rant” in which he…
By Douglas J. Manning, Partner, Certified Specialist in Family Law
I have provided services as a mediator and arbitrator for several years. In addition, I have conferred with other mediators in the field. Given our experiences here are some suggestions to make the best use of family mediation.
…
Ontario is now committed to reforming the family court system in Ontario. To make that happen the government intends to change the attitude of all participants. Those of us who deal with family breakdowns have long understood that the adversarial system is really not the best system to deal with family breakdown. That system often…
Family law reform is underway in Ontario. Reform of “the way we do things” that is.
Normally, when parties separate, they turn to the court system if they are unable to negotiate an agreement themselves with respect to the many issues which they may face. Often, they consult a lawyer whose main emphasis is to…
