Calgary Family Mediation & Arbitration Lawyers

Choose the process by the decision you need

Negotiation, mediation, arbitration and court are different tools. The right choice depends on whether the parties need help communicating, need a binding decision, face an urgent issue, have reliable disclosure, and can participate safely.

A process can also be staged: exchange disclosure first, mediate the issues capable of agreement, and save arbitration or court for what remains.

Mediation: the parties make the decisions

A mediator is a neutral facilitator — they do not impose an outcome. Mediation can address parenting, support, property and the terms of a separation agreement, either lawyer-assisted or with legal advice obtained between sessions.

A mediation summary is not necessarily a binding final agreement. Convert the result into properly drafted documents, supported by complete disclosure and reviewed through independent legal advice.

Arbitration: an agreed decision-maker decides

In arbitration, the parties agree to appoint a neutral arbitrator to decide defined issues. The arbitration agreement should identify jurisdiction, procedure, evidence, timelines, confidentiality, interim powers, reasons, costs and any appeal route available under the agreement and law.

Arbitration can offer scheduling flexibility and a decision-maker with family-law experience. It is still an adjudicative process and requires careful preparation and procedural fairness.

Med-arb combines settlement and decision stages

Mediation-arbitration begins with an effort to reach agreement and moves unresolved issues into arbitration. The parties should understand in advance whether the same professional will act in both roles and what information from mediation may be used later.

Clear transition rules and informed consent are important because confidential settlement discussions and adjudicative evidence serve different purposes.

Disclosure comes before informed settlement

Financial mediation cannot reliably resolve support or property issues without adequate disclosure. Exchange and organize the tax records, income information, corporate documents, property values, pensions and debts before final terms are accepted.

If disclosure is incomplete, say so in the process agreement: state what must be produced and how disclosure disputes will be resolved.

Safety and suitability screening

Family violence, coercive control, fear, mental-health concerns, substance use and severe power imbalance can affect whether a process is safe or fair. Screening may lead to separate sessions, support persons, counsel participation, procedural safeguards or a conclusion that mediation is not appropriate.

Urgent protection, preservation of property, child-safety or enforcement issues may require court intervention even where other issues are mediated.

Alberta’s 2026 resolution-focused court process

Alberta’s Family Justice Strategy and the Court of King’s Bench Family Focused Protocol emphasize early information, disclosure and appropriate dispute resolution. The province-wide King’s Bench protocol took effect in January 2026 and includes mandatory pre-court processes, exclusions and waiver mechanisms.

Check the current procedural requirements before filing. Participating in mediation or another process does not by itself extend a limitation period or replace a required court step.

Preparing for a productive session

• define the issues and the decisions required
• exchange complete financial and parenting information
• identify urgent, safety or limitation concerns
• prepare realistic proposals and the reasons supporting them
• understand the legal range before negotiating
• decide how any resolution will become a binding agreement or order