When is mediation or a collaborative family law process not appropriate?
While these are very good ways of resolving family issues, they may not be appropriate if there has been family violence or child abuse, or if the other spouse won’t participate fairly during the mediation or the collaborative divorce process. How can you find a qualified and experienced mediator? • For a Family Law Mediator (lawyer-mediator), phone the Lawyer Referral Service at 604.687.3221 in Vancouver or 1.800.663.1919 toll-free elsewhere in BC. A Family Law Mediator is especially useful if one of your issues is dividing up the assets and property. • Call Family Mediation Canada at 1.877.362.2005 (toll-free) and ask for a list of family mediators in your area. Their website is www.fmc.ca. • Contact the British Columbia Mediation Roster Society, which maintains a list of family mediators. Call 1.888.713.0433 or click on www.mediator-roster.bc.ca. • A Provincial Court Family Justice Counsellor may be able to help. They typically help people of modest means with custody, access, guard
