Serving New Westminster, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge and Mission

There are ways of staying out of court and keeping legal costs down for families going through a divorce or a separation.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary process where the parties attempt, with the assistance of an impartial person to promote a settlement and reach an agreement on the issues they agree on. 

What is a Mediator?

A mediator is an independent, neutral third-party who is prepared to help people involved in a conflict or dispute come to an agreement.

For couples seeking a separation or a divorce, the mediator’s role is to help both spouses identify, negotiate and come to a mutually-acceptable agreement on the various issues and financial matters required to end their relationship outside of a courtroom.  The mediation process is cooperative and non-adversarial, so it’s more peaceful to work with a mediator instead of going to court which is typically confrontational and hostile.                                                                                 

The mediator actively participates in the negotiations, but the spouses have full control over the decisions they will be making, which is unlike arbitration where an arbitrator acts as a judge and controls the decision-making process.

The mediator, unlike an arbitrator, does not make a decision for the parties. 

Instead the mediator helps the parties to make their own decisions about their own family.

However, the mediator does not provide legal advice to either spouse.  Both spouses will need to obtain legal advice from their own lawyer.  And, in most cases, the spouses attend the mediation along with their lawyers.

Compared to going to Court: 

• it saves time

• it saves stress 

• and, it saves the client money

Looking to get in touch?

W. Laurence Scott. Q.C. is a qualified Family Law Mediator and a qualified Family Law Arbitrator.  He is also a qualified Parenting Coordinator.  Mr. Scott is certified by the Law Society of British Columbia in these areas to assist clients in family law disputes.

 It would be Mr. Scott’s pleasure to help you.