Mediation is a voluntary way of resolving disputes where a trained mediator helps parties of relatively equal bargaining positions to resolve disputes about family issues.

Mediators are usually social workers, lawyers, psychologists, or other professionals. When these professionals work as family mediators, their job is to help parties reach an agreement on support payments, the division of property, custody of and access to the children, or any other family-related issues. Mediators do not take sides or make decisions for the parties. They cannot give legal advice.

A party considering mediation should speak to a lawyer before seeing a mediator. It is helpful to know the law and one's rights and obligations before mediation starts. Lawyers will usually not go to mediation with the parties. It is important for parties to review any agreement reached during mediation with their lawyers before it is signed.

Mediation is not appropriate for everyone, particularly in cases where there has been violence or abuse. Where one party is afraid of, or intimidated by, their spouse, mediation may not be a good idea.

The mediation process is voluntary and parties who are unhappy with the mediation process can leave it at any time.

Mediation Services at Family Court Locations

Mediation for family law matters is provided at the 17 Family Court locations. These services include mediation of all legal issues arising upon family breakdown: custody, access, support, and equalization of net family properties.

Mediation is available on-site in the court facility, and off-site in the mediators' offices. User fees for off-site mediation are charged to clients on a sliding scale based on their income and number of dependents.

Link to Service Providers at Family Court Locations

Family Mediation Roster (Toronto)

As a joint initiative of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ministry of the Attorney General, a roster of family mediators was developed in Toronto in 1998. The roster is available to all clients of the court.

Clients are required to pay for the service. Mediators on the roster accept a fee of $300 per party for the first four hours of mediation (including preparation and screening), after which they may charge their usual fee. Mediators on the roster are also required to provide a minimum of 12 hours of free mediation per year.

Location

Superior Court of Justice
393 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 326-6214

Mediation Services in the Toronto, Ontario Court of Justice

Family mediation services are available in court and primarily address issues related to children, including custody/decision-making, access/parenting schedules and child support.

These services are available at the courts at 47 Sheppard Avenue E., Toronto and 311 Jarvis Street, Toronto. Contact information is as follows:

Manager of Court Operations
47 Sheppard Ave. E.
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 325-0357

Michael Kanter, Mediator
311 Jarvis Street
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 327-6987