Let me ask you this – when you think of divorce, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
If you’re like most people, it’s probably a courtroom battle, with two angry spouses battling it out over money, assets, and custody of the children.
But here’s the thing – divorce doesn’t have to be that way. As a family lawyer, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that divorce mediation can have on couples who are going through a separation.
Divorce mediation can be a great option for couples who want to take a more collaborative approach to divorce.
For example, if you and your spouse are on reasonably good terms, and you both want to minimize conflict and prioritize the well-being of your children, mediation could be the right choice for you.
To break this down a bit further – mediation can help you create a co-parenting plan that works for everyone, with a focus on the best interests of the child. By working together, you can create a plan that addresses the practical issues of co-parenting, such as custody schedules and financial support, as well as the emotional needs of your child.
Ultimately, the decision to choose mediation or litigation is a deeply personal one, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
But if you’re looking for a more respectful, less contentious approach to divorce that prioritizes cooperation and communication, mediation could be the right choice for you.
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.