Divorce & Family Law Mediation is our Business
Hillcrest Law & Mediation 4203 Quebec Street Vancouver, BC V5V 3L1 Canada
Mediation
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a dispute resolution process where people who have disputes agree to try to resolve their problems outside of court. They hire the services of a mediator, who is a neutral and trained professional. Mediators are trained to facilitate settlements using "interest-based" negotiation. This is where the mediator works with the parties to understand the underlying reasons for the dispute, which can lead to a better appreciation of the issues and reach practical settlements that can be satisfactory to all. Mediators do not make decisions for the parties, but use their skills to facilitate settlements and summarize those settlements to form the basis of written agreements which can then be binding in court.
Mediation is a cost-effective way for parties to agree to settlements that work for them. Mediators cannot provide independent legal advice. Parties may have their lawyers attend the mediation, or parties may attend mediation without lawyers but meet with their lawyers to discuss the results of the mediation and ensure they have the appropriate legal advice to make final decisions.
Hillcrest Family Mediation Services
Family Law Mediation
Rhona Lichtenwald trained as a family law mediator in 1996. In 2013 the BC Family Law Act increased the training requirements for family law mediators and Rhona is fully certified by the Law Society of BC as a Family Law Mediator, with over 100 hours of training, and continues to provide training in mediation to lawyers, law students and legal advocates. Rhona is also a Mediator of the Family Roster of Mediate BC.
Rhona is very hands-on and practical. She works with clients to review all aspects of their family law issues to ensure that their mediated settlements are complete. Rhona is sensitive, flexible and uses her experience and skills to ensure that settlements reached are fair. Rhona works with clients who do not have legal counsel and with clients who wish their lawyers present at the mediation. Rhona often works with other professionals, such as psychologists, counsellors and financial experts, depending on the clients' needs and issues. Rhona has experience co-mediating disputes with other mediation professionals using a team approach.
We mediate all areas of family & divorce law:
- parenting arrangements and parenting time
- child and spousal support
- division of family property (which may include real estate, pensions, businesses, trusts and inheritances) and debts
We prepare the following documents:
- memorandums of understanding
- separation agreements (subject to independent legal advice)
- prenuptial and co-habitation agreements
- joint applications for divorce
CURRENTLY MEDIATIONS ARE BOOKED WITH ZOOM VIDEOCONFERENCING AND TELEPHONE
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