What is alternativelaw?
With over 25 years of experience, alternativelaw is a staged approach to help parties to develop understanding, address conflict, and resolve legal rights and obligations. Our proven alternativelaw approach involves a coordinated process that will encourage an effective legal separation and balanced discussions that will keep you out of Court.
Stage 1- Consultation & Assessment
In this stage, participants will connect with our team to understand the process in a free consultation. You’ll both coordinate with one of our Professional Family Mediators to ensure mediation is the best process available and how this will work in your particular situation.
Stage 2- Financial Disclosure and Learning Conversations
Maintaining effective financial disclosure is crucial in the alternativelaw process. During this phase you’ll work independently and jointly on our case management file. Your information and documentation will be kept secure and confidential through our client portal and easily accessed by you and your legal/financial advisors.
Stage 3- Consensus Discussions and Mediation Sessions
With the support of our Professional Family Mediators, you will be guided through seamless consensus building mediation sessions. Our mediator will facilitate your discussions, ensuring your right to self-determination is always maintained and you have the information needed to make informed decisions. The mediators will ensure that you receive practical and legal information supporting a reliable transition plan.
Stage 4- Comprehensive Agreements
When discussions have finished, and parties are satisfied, our mediators will prepare your draft Separation Agreement. Our proven experience in developing comprehensive family law contracts (draft memorandum of agreement) will provide you with a well drafted agreement ready for independent legal advice or further institutional review (ie. Court, banks, etc.).
Stage 5- Divorce Processing (Optional)
With the help of our affiliated lawyers, your comprehensive Separation Agreement will be pivoted into a Court application on a joint and uncontested basis. This stage will produce a Divorce Order and Certificate of Divorce. FCM will provide a seamless referral to a licensed Ontario lawyer who, under a separate services contract, will help you in obtaining your final Court Order consistent with the FCM mediation process.
