TRADITIONAL MEDIATION
We can facilitate traditional mediation via Zoom.
Each parent is sent a link for a Risk Assessment known as the Family Doors Program. The mediator will have an initial consultation with each parent (separately). This consultation focuses on:
- The circumstances for the separation.
- How the children are currently coping.
- Communication between the parents (both in the past and currently).
- Any risk factors identified in the Family Doors Questionnaire.
- Other parents’ strengths.
- Ideal outcomes for the future.
- Any other issues that either parent wants to raise.
We will go through a series of scenarios with you to gain an understanding of your view of the other parent. This assists us to comprehend the level of conflict.
The mediator will then have a similar initial consultation with the other parent to find their point of view.
We then set a date for the discussion of the issues between the two parents. This is usually completed via Zoom. The mediator assists to develop the parenting plan on the day. It is sent for electronic signatures and agreements begin immediately.
Parenting Plans vs Consent Orders
A parenting plan is a written agreement that sets out parenting arrangements for a child or children. The plan is worked out and agreed jointly. You and the other parent do not need to go to court to enter into a parenting plan.
Consent Orders
For a Parenting Plan to be legally enforceable, it must be taken to a Solicitor to be reworded into a Consent Order. Solicitors would generally advise that each parent obtain independent legal advice before signing such an order.
Our mediators may challenge you!
The decisions within your Parenting Plan are up to you. If both parents agree that an aspect is in a child’s best interests, then that will be added to your plan.
However, if one or both parents are not focusing on a child’s needs, we will ask you to think about this from a child’s perspective.
An example:
We had a father who wanted to take his 6 year old daughter to all “Home Games” of his favourite football team. We looked at this practically, as football games can occur on a Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon or Monday night. The man wanted a clause written into the plan that, whenever the team was playing, his former partner would agree that he took his daughter to the game. The mother of the child was understandably reluctant to agree to that. The mediator challenged the man to see this from his daughter’s point of view. Practically, the night games don’t finish until approximately 9pm. With travel time, he wouldn’t have his daughter in bed until 10-10.30pm. After some back and forth, the man agreed that this wouldn’t be in the young girl’s best interests. The mother agreed that, with 4 weeks’ notice, he could take the girl to weekend games if it wasn’t his usual time with his daughter.
In the above example, there was compromise from both the mother and the father and there was a child focused solution found.
