The answer might surprise you.
Despite the challenges, divorce mediation can be a remarkably effective solution.
An experienced family law mediator will ensure that the structure of your mediation is tailored to meet your unique situation. The pre-mediation forms that you are requested to complete, and the preparation work that is done by a family law mediator prior to the start of the mediation is critical.
The mediation structure for a high conflict divorce will look different than it will look for a lower conflict divorce.
An experienced family law mediator creates a safe space for communication, allowing you to voice your concerns and needs without the intimidation often felt in traditional legal settings.
In addition, the mediator helps to keep the dialogue constructive and focused on finding common ground, ultimately leading to agreements that are tailored to your unique circumstances.
While it may seem daunting to consider mediation in the face of a contentious relationship, it’s worth exploring as a means to address your specific conflict dynamic, and achieve a more effective resolution to your divorce.
Your path forward might be clearer than you think!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about the next steps, let’s chat.
Beryl McNeill is a Calgary divorce lawyer who strongly believes mutual respect and understanding go a long way toward resolving family law matters. As a Registered Collaborative Law practitioner in Calgary, she has dedicated her firm to amicable, cooperative negotiation as a means for settling divorces. Furthermore, throughout her law career, Beryl has seen the costs of adversarial negotiations, both financial and emotional. In emphasizing the collaborative approach, Beryl offers her clients a more efficient model that preserves personal and monetary assets alike.
More and more individuals are attracted to resolving their family law matters in a civil, respectful way. Therefore, they come to Beryl from many walks of life—as professionals in the oil and gas industry and their spouses, business owners, and working spouses with children. Clients say that even after a single consultation with Beryl they feel less stressed and more clear about the way forward.
Beryl understands the often fearful, emotional early stages of divorce. Incorporating skills developed from her training as a life coach, Beryl helps clients move beyond their stress response to more logical, creative thinking. Once there, she works with clients to discover what’s truly important to them in attaining divorce. Furthermore, she encourages clients to picture what a successful settlement would look like a year or more down the road as a means of focusing on their goals. By educating and empowering clients, Beryl seeks to transform the way they resolve family disputes—in a more constructive, intelligent and amicable way than would be possible otherwise.
Finally, Beryl is very active with the Family Bar and the Collaborative Law Community. Her involvement provides her clients with the assurance that she has her finger on the pulse of Family Law in Alberta, offering them a distinct advantage in their quest for equity and civility.