As mediator, the primary role is to assist you in reaching a fair and final agreement which settles the issues arising out of your relationship. This is a summary of what, Marc-Nicholas Quinn, as family law mediator can offer:
- He will act fairly and honestly.
- He will be unbiased and open.
- He will treat you both equally.
- He will not takes sides.
- He will assist you in making decisions (but cannot make decisions for you) and offer you suggestions and present options for settlement.
- He will not provide any legal advice but provide legal information you need to make decisions.
- He will assist you in better communicating with your spouse.
- He will assist you in understanding your own views and preferences and those of your spouse rather than take “positions”.
- He will provide a fair, unbiased, safe and neutral setting where he can manage the mediation process in which you feel safe speaking to your spouse openly and share your concerns and preferences on the issues.
- He will discuss the issues with you and assist you in reaching an agreement which meets your particular needs.
- He will control the process and keep the spouses focussed on the issues, remain respectful and open-minded.
- He will remind the spouses of the reasons why mediation was chosen.
- He will encourage cooperation.
- He will help you explore, understand and explain your needs and concerns in a respectful fashion.
- When you cannot agree or reach an impasse, he will focus you on the goals of mediation and explore alternative solutions with you.
- He will assist by facilitating communication and ideals between spouses, exploring options, by helping you communicate better with your spouse, focussing on the issues at hand, providing a forum for an open discussion, help you understand each other better, encourage cooperation and consider compromises and alternative solutions.
- He will probe into the underlying issues and encourage each spouse to discuss their issues and express their feelings.
- He will explore the spouses interests and views as opposed to a spouses positions.
- He will help you develop and consider settlement options.
- He will assist you in testing your options (will that work 6 months from now?, etc...).
- He will assist you in sharing information and documents needed to make the mediation process successful.
- He will assist you in taking control of the outcome of your circumstances by reaching a mutually satisfactory resolution of your dispute.
- Part of a mediator’s role is to control the process, manage any conflict, diffuse emotions, and balance the power between the parties. This includes preventing manipulation and facilitating communication. There is no restriction on what issues that can be raised in mediation. If it is important to you, it is important to the mediator. Marc-Nicholas Quinn will not allow either party to give up any legal right without the opportunity to have independent legal advice.
Mediators will not make decisions for you and cannot impose decisions on you. All decisions made in mediation must be voluntary and fair.
Click Here to Return to FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
