Creating Family Solutions’ Parenting Coordination service is designed to assist high conflict families resolve their child related issues and disengage from their marital relationship by maintaining a child focused perspective.

A Parenting Coordinator [“PC”] is a neutral third party hired by separated or divorced parents to assist with the implementation of their previously agreed to or court ordered parenting plan.  Services are provided in a timely and cost effective manner while protecting the children from parental conflict.

A PC’s function is to assist parents through education, coaching, case management, mediation or arbitration.

Benefits of Parenting Coordination:

• Cost effective;
• PCs are readily available for parents to assist with the resolution of day to day issues such as extracurricular activities, rules of parental conduct, transition of children’s belongings between the homes, vacation schedules, telephone access, etc;
• PCs may make minor changes to parenting plans such as adding paragraphs for clarification.

Creating Family Solutions works with parties to reach a voluntarily negotiated settlement in a cost effective manner with respect to issues arising out of their separation/divorce such as equalization of net family property, custody, access, child support and spousal support.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. 

Benefits of mediation/arbitration versus court proceedings:

• The parties involved participate directly in the development of the resolution of the disagreement.  Also, the relationship between the parties is preserved. Going to court often creates antagonism which continues after the end of the trial.

• Parties generally, unless arrangements have been made, share the cost of mediation.  When matters are pursued through the court each party is responsible for their own costs.

• Cases that proceed through the court system can take at least two to three months before a first appearance in court.  A mediation date can be obtained in a shorter period of time which may result in an earlier resolution of the issues.

Is Mediation right for you?

To find out if mediation is right for you, visit the Ministry of the Attorney General website.

Parties may turn to arbitration when they cannot work out a mediated resolution themselves. Like a Mediator, an Arbitrator is an impartial third party, however, parties are bound by any decision that an Arbitrator makes.   An Arbitration is conducted in the same fashion as a court hearing, but without the formality of a court room.  Unlike mediation, parties may bring witnesses and provide evidence to support their case.

Compared with the court litigation process, arbitration usually reduces the costs by streamlining the procedures, making efficient use of time and locating in a place convenient for those involved.

Creating Family Solutions can provide referrals through our network of professionals for additional services you may need such as, counseling, financial advice and real estate services.

Creating Family Solutions conducts screening for domestic violence and power imbalances.  Prior to the commencement of mediation and/or arbitration, parties must be screened for domestic violence and power imbalances.