Family law can be complicated. You may feel overwhelmed and vulnerable. Your family may experience painful emotions, financial upheaval, and changes to routines at home, work, and school. You need good legal advice. You need an experienced and compassionate family law professional. Experienced Ancaster divorce lawyer and family mediator Lesley Matthewson
Collaborative family law is a private, respectful, solution-oriented approach to separation and divorce. It allows separating couples to create their own settlement agreements working with their individual, specially trained family lawyers, but in a team negotiation process according to a Participation Agreement that defines the rules of conduct. Everyone commits to not going to court or even threatening
Mediation is another cooperative approach to settlement of family law issues. One neutral mediator works with the parties directly to help them reach an agreement in principle. Even if the mediator is a lawyer, she does not provide legal advice to either party and does not make any decisions for them. Mediation does not replace legal advice. It may be necessary for the parties