Mediation Services
Our certified OAFM mediators have been approved by The Ministry of the Attorney General to provide mediation services in a variety of locations. All our services can be provided in-person or remotely via technology. To begin the on-site mediation process, please complete the Mediation Information Form.
Once you complete the Mediation Information Form on-line, a member of our roster will be in contact with you to complete the intake assessment. This ensures mediation is an appropriate dispute resolution option for you at this time.
On Site
Mediation
Provides up to 2 hours of dispute resolution free of charge if you are in court.
Child Inclusive
Mediation
Allows the voice of the child to be heard in a safe mediation environment.
Intergenerational
Mediation
Assists generations of family to make decisions for their loved ones.
ON-SITE MEDIATION SERVICES
ARE YOU IN COURT? OR DO YOU HAVE A COURT CASE FILE NUMBER?
On-site mediators take cases that are on the court docket that day. We can also be available for on-site mediation if clients have a court case file number and are awaiting the court date. Cases are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis unless there is an emergency.
There is no cost for On-Site Mediation
HOW DOES ON-SITE MEDIATION WORK?
Intake
Clients begin by filling out the Mediation Information form before individual intakes can be completed.
Screening
Each person will meet separately with the Mediator who determines if the case is appropriate for mediation.
Resolve Issues
The Mediator meets with the parties to facilitate discussions and form resolutions regarding the outstanding issues before the court.
Agreement and Court Order
If same-day mediation results in an agreement, a court order may be issued by the Court.
Referral to Off-Site Mediation
If the case appears to need further time and more extensive sessions, information and referrals can be made for off-site mediation.
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR ON-SITE MEDIATION?
Examples of issues that may be appropriate for on-site mediation include (but not limited to):
- Parenting issues such as the determination of and changes to parental decision-making and parenting time, including other parenting plan details such as holidays, travel, mobility, and relocaiton.
- Child support issues such as the determination of and changes to payments and extraordinary/special expenses.
- Spousal support and property issues may also be appropriate for on-site mediation in some instances.
OFF-SITE MEDIATION SERVICES
NO COURT DATE BUT WISH TO TRY MEDIATION?
Off-site mediation services are available for people who wish to try mediation, whether they have started a court case or not. Our Off-Site certified OAFM Mediators include mental health professionals and lawyers who can assist you in mediating family issues, including:
Parental Decision Making
Parenting time
Access
Parenting Plans
Child and/or Spousal Support
Special and Extraordinary Expenses
Mobility and Relocation
Holidays and TravelDivision of Property
Possession of the Matrimonial Home
Marital Equalization
Amendments to a Separation Agreement
Extended Family Access
Child Inclusive Mediation
Intergenerational Mediation
Parental Decision Making
Parenting time
Access
Parenting Plans
Child and/or Spousal Support
Special and Extraordinary Expenses
Mobility and Relocation
Holidays and Travel
Division of Property
Possession of the Matrimonial Home
Marital Equalization
Amendments to a Separation Agreement
Extended Family Access
Child Inclusive Mediation
Intergenerational Mediation
HOW DOES OFF-SITE MEDIATION WORK?
Provide
Information
All parties must complete the Mediation Information Form before mediation can begin.
Intake
Assessment
The mediator meets individually with all parties to ensure mediation is appropriate.
Complete
Agreements
All parties meet for a joint session with the mediator upon completion of Off-Site Mediation Agreements.
Mediation
Begins
The mediator serves as an impartial third party who facilitates the negotiation between parties.
WHAT DOES OFF-SITE MEDIATION COST?
The Ministry of the Attorney General assists residents by subsidizing the fees for Off-Site Mediation based on income. Off-site mediation should take between 2-8 hours. The following schedule sets out the maximum hourly fees charged for off-site mediation services.
Gross Yearly Income | Client + No Dependents | Client + 1 Dependent | Client + 2 Dependents | Client + 3 Dependents | Client + 4 (or more) Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Under $14,999 | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr |
$15,000 - $19,999 | $10.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr |
$20,000 - $24,999 | $20.00/hr | $10.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr |
$25,000 - 29,999 | $30.00/hr | $20.00/hr | 10.00/hr | $5.00/hr | $5.00/hr |
$30,000 - $34,999 | $46.00/hr | $35.00/hr | $23.00/hr | $13.00/hr | $6.00/hr |
$35,000 - $39,999 | $59.00/hr | $46.00/hr | $35.00/hr | $23.00/hr | $13.00/hr |
$40,000 - $44,999 | $69.00/hr | $59.00/hr | $46.00/hr | $35.00/hr | $23.00/hr |
$45,000 - $49,999 | $82.00/hr | $69.00/hr | $59.00/hr | $46.00/hr | $35.00/hr |
$50,000 - $54,999 | $92.00/hr | $82.00/hr | $69.00/hr | $59.00/hr | $46.00/hr |
$55,000 - 59,999 | $105/hr | $92.00/hr | $82.00/hr | $69.00/hr | $59.00/hr |
$60,000 - $64,999 | * | $105.00/hr | $92.00/hr | $82.00/hr | $69.00/hr |
$65,000 - 69,999 | * | * | $105.00/hr | $92.00/hr | $82.00/hr |
$70,000 - $74,999 | * | * | * | $105.00/hr | $92.00/hr |
$75,000 - $79,999 | * | * | * | * | $105.00/hr |
$80,000 - $89,999 | * | * | * | * | * |
$90,000 + | * | * | * | * | * |
* If an hourly rate is not provided, fee to be negotiated.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Closed vs. Open Off-Site Mediation
Mediation Centre Ontario Inc. provides two types of Off-Site mediation which affect the confidentiality of the mediation.
Closed Mediation
Closed Mediation is confidential and only discloses to the court or arbitration proceedings what the parties agree upon.
The mediator writes a “mediation report” containing only resolved issue outcomes.
The “mediation report” is not signed by the parties.
Parties discuss what will be done with the mediation report including making it into a court order or separation agreement.
Open Mediation
In open mediation, if you go to court, the mediation process will not be private. You, the other person and the mediator will be able to discuss what happened during the mediation.
The mediator may also share a report with the court summarizing the issues that have been resolved and outlining the issues that remain outstanding.
All documents can be shared.
CHILD INCLUSIVE MEDIATION
A qualified Child Inclusive Mediator consults with a child about their experience of the family separation in a supportive and developmentally appropriate manner. This practice removes any burden of decision-making for children and creates an environment to freely express their true wants and needs.
- Permits children to share often unspoken needs to the parents.
- Helps parents better understand the essence of their child's experience and needs.
- Avoids the risk of children telling each parent only what they believe that parent wants to hear.
- Parents often respect their children's true perspectives and are more likely to settle their disputes in the best interest of their child.
HOW DOES CHILD INCLUSIVE MEDIATION WORK?
A Child Inclusive Mediator assists parents in hearing the child’s position to develop a parenting plan while considering the children’s developmental needs. As a result, parents report significantly greater satisfaction with their children’s living and visiting arrangements one year after the child-inclusive mediation.
INTERGENERATIONAL MEDIATION
We provide a confidential and professional forum for multi-generational families to focus on achieving settlement concerning family disputes. This allows families to explore solutions for a broad range of decisions affecting senior family members’ lives while maintaining their voice and dignity.
Our intergenerational mediators are professionally trained and possess skilful knowledge about the types of issues typically involved with older members of the family group and their caregivers in the community. This includes friends and others who are willing to support.
TYPICAL ISSUES AND INTERGENERATIONAL CONCERNS
Health and medical care (at home, hospital, continuing care and long-term care)
Legal issues (estate, inheritance, living will, power of attorney)
Caregiving requirements and costs
Financial concerns and disputes
Guardianship decisions
Housing and living arrangements
End-of-life planning and decision-maiking
Intergenerational relationship issues
New marriages and step-relative issues
Religious issues Family business concerns
Driving ability concerns
Abuse, safety issues, self-neglect
Progressive dementias and other memory impairments concerns
Health and medical care (at home, hospital, continuing care and long-term care)
Legal issues (estate, inheritance, living will, power of attorney)
Caregiving requirements and costs
Financial concerns and disputes
Guardianship decisions
Housing and living arrangements
End-of-life planning and decision-maiking
Intergenerational relationship issues
New marriages and step-relative issues
Religious issues Family business concerns
Driving ability concerns
Abuse, safety issues, self-neglect
Progressive dementias and other memory impairments concerns
APPLY TO BE A MEDIATOR
MEDIATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Our Mediation Internship program meets Ontario Association of Family Mediation (OAFM) requirements, and provides the mandatory 100 hours of hands-on, live and in-person learning, mentorship and supervised experience in family mediation with our senior OAFM accredited mediators.
We have a team of senior Mediators with legal and social work backgrounds to assist you observe numerous styles of mediation.
We are not able to accept all internship applications as we limit our numbers to ensure a comprehensive and timely internship. To learn more about our program, please submit this form
