As a divorce lawyer, I have seen countless families go through the painful process of separation, and it breaks my heart to see them struggle.
A way to avoid this, is to consider family mediation.
There are three key reasons why I feel family mediation could be a very viable option for many couples:
- Family mediation promotes communication and cooperation. One of the biggest challenges of a divorce or separation is the breakdown of communication between family members. Mediation sessions offer a safe and neutral space for parties to express their needs and concerns, and work together to find solutions. By promoting communication and cooperation, families can develop healthy, positive relationships that will endure long after the mediation process is over.
- Family mediation can save time and money. Traditional divorce proceedings can be costly and time-consuming, often requiring multiple court appearances and lengthy legal battles. Mediation, on the other hand, is typically much faster and more cost-effective. By avoiding the expense and delays of a court case, families can focus on moving forward and rebuilding their lives.
- Family mediation empowers families to make their own decisions. In a court case, decisions are often made by a judge who doesn’t know the family or their unique circumstances. In mediation, however, families have the power to make their own decisions about how to resolve their disputes. This can lead to more personalized and creative solutions that work for everyone involved.
If you or someone you know is going through a divorce or separation, don’t go through it alone. Reach out to me to set up a complimentary call so we can help you figure out a plan for moving forward.
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.