I am often asked about the benefits of family mediation, as compared with other methods of resolving family disputes. There are many, and I discuss them frequently with my clients, members of the public and colleagues. A fellow mediator reminded me the other day of an important benefit of this process ~ one we don’t speak of or write about enough - privacy!

Let’s face ~ at the end of a relationship, whether married or common-law, many couples find themselves in debt - with loans from institutions like banks and credit unions, but also from family and friends. “What happens to these loans on separation?” is a question I am asked a lot, both as a family mediator and family law lawyer. The answer is (yes, you guessed it!!) - it depends.

A separated couple (whether married or common-law) can choose to address in Family Mediation only select and very specific issues ~ those on which they cannot agree through direct dialogue.