Virtual Family Mediation Ontario | Online Divorce Mediator
Resolve your separation or family law issues without travelling, attending court or meeting in the same physical location.
Aaries Family Law provides virtual family mediation to separating spouses and parents throughout Ontario. Mediation sessions can take place by telephone or video, allowing each person to participate from a separate and private location.
Our Ontario family lawyer and mediator can help you work through parenting arrangements, child support, spousal support, property division, separation agreements and other family law issues through a structured and transparent process.
You do not need to have everything resolved before contacting us. The purpose of mediation is to identify the issues, exchange the necessary information and determine whether practical agreements can be reached.
Call 613-453-2275 or toll-free 1-800-838-9929, or request a callback to begin the intake process. You can also email mark@aariesfamilylaw.ca
Book a Mediation Intake
Our Virtual Family Mediation Process
Our mediation process is structured to protect neutrality, transparency and fairness from the beginning.
Unlike some mediation models, we do not use the separate intake meetings to privately collect each party’s detailed version of the dispute.
The separate intakes are primarily used for screening, explaining the mediation process and confirming whether the matter is appropriate for mediation.
The substantive information about the relationship, the separation and the issues to be resolved is generally gathered during the first joint mediation session. Both parties can hear, understand and respond to the information being provided.
This approach helps ensure that:
- Both parties know what substantive information the mediator has received.
- Each party has an opportunity to respond.
- Information can be clarified and vetted openly.
- The mediator is not perceived as having privately accepted one party’s version of events.
- The mediation begins from a transparent and neutral foundation.
1. Initial Contact
The process begins when one or both parties contact our office and provide the basic information needed to identify the parties, complete a conflict check and arrange the separate intake calls.
The parties do not need to agree about the outcome before contacting us. They only need to be willing to explore whether mediation may help them resolve some or all of their family law issues.
2. Separate Telephone Intakes
Each party completes a separate intake by telephone. These intake meetings generally take approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
The intake follows a standardized process and includes:
- An explanation of the mediator’s neutral role
- An overview of how mediation works
- Domestic violence and safety screening
- A discussion of confidentiality
- Information about fees
- Confirmation that participation is voluntary
- An assessment of whether mediation appears appropriate
We intentionally collect only limited substantive case information during the separate intakes.
The intake is not intended to become a private presentation of one party’s position. Limiting the information collected at this stage helps protect the neutrality and transparency of the mediation process.
3. Mediation Services Agreement
After both parties have completed their separate intakes and the matter is considered suitable for mediation, the parties sign a Mediation Services Agreement.
The agreement establishes the terms of the mediation, including:
- The mediator’s neutral role
- Confidentiality
- Fees and payment
- The responsibilities of the parties
- The voluntary nature of mediation
- The rules governing the process
Substantive mediation begins after the intake process has been completed and the Mediation Services Agreement has been signed.
4. First Joint Mediation Session
The first substantive meeting is generally a joint mediation session.
This is where we begin gathering the important information about the case, including:
- The history of the relationship
- The circumstances of the separation
- Existing parenting arrangements
- Parenting concerns
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Property and debt issues
- Previous agreements or court orders
- The issues each party wants to resolve
Beginning this discussion jointly promotes transparency. Each party can hear the information being provided, correct misunderstandings and respond to the other party’s position.
Relevant documents may be provided before the meeting, including income information, financial disclosure, parenting schedules, court orders, existing agreements and written proposals.
Each participant should join from a quiet and private location where they can speak freely and without interruption.
5. Working Through the Issues
The mediator helps the parties identify the issues, organize the relevant information, communicate their concerns and explore possible solutions.
The mediator remains neutral throughout the process. The mediator does not represent either party, decide who is right or impose an outcome.
The first joint format is preferred because it supports openness and transparency.
However, the mediator may use separate discussions or shuttle mediation later in the process where that would assist communication or help the parties work through an impasse.
The mediation format can therefore be adapted where necessary without changing the mediator’s neutrality or the overall structure of the process.
6. Reaching and Recording Agreements
The parties may resolve all of their issues or only some of them.
Where terms are agreed upon, they should be recorded clearly so that both parties understand what has been resolved and what, if anything, remains outstanding.
Depending on the circumstances, the mediator may prepare a mediation summary, agreed terms or another written record of the outcome.
7. Finalizing a Separation Agreement
A verbal agreement reached during mediation is not usually the final step.
The mediated terms should generally be incorporated into a properly drafted separation agreement or another appropriate written document.
Because our mediator is also a family lawyer, a separation agreement can generally be drafted as part of the process for an additional fee. Alternatively, the parties may take the agreed terms or mediation summary to their independent lawyers.
Each party may obtain independent legal advice before signing the final agreement.
The fact that the mediation took place by telephone or video does not affect the legal validity of the final separation agreement. What matters is that the agreement is properly prepared, signed and witnessed in accordance with Ontario law.
Start the Mediation Process
Online Family Mediation From Anywhere in Ontario
Virtual mediation, also known as online mediation or remote mediation, allows both parties to participate without travelling to an office or being physically present together.
The family law issues are the same as they would be during an in-person mediation. The primary difference is that the meetings take place remotely by telephone or video.
Virtual family mediation may be useful where:
- The parties live in different communities.
- One party has moved outside Ontario or Canada.
- Work schedules make in-person meetings difficult.
- Parenting or caregiving responsibilities limit availability.
- Travel time and expense would make mediation less practical.
- One or both parties are uncomfortable meeting face to face.
- The parties prefer to participate from separate locations.
- A more flexible meeting schedule is needed.
- The parties want to attempt resolution without beginning or continuing a court case.
Remote mediation can be used whether the parties are married or common-law and whether or not court proceedings have already begun.
Issues That Can Be Addressed Through Virtual Mediation
Online divorce and family mediation can address most of the same issues as an in-person mediation.
Parenting Plans and Parenting Time
Parents can use mediation to develop a clear and detailed parenting arrangement.
Issues may include:
- Regular parenting schedules
- Weekends and weekdays
- Holidays and special occasions
- Summer vacations
- Exchanges and transportation
- Decision-making responsibility (what used to be called custody)
- School and extracurricular activities
- Medical and dental decisions
- Communication between the parents
- Communication between each parent and the children
- Travel with the children
- Procedures for addressing future disagreements
A detailed parenting plan can reduce uncertainty and provide both parents with clearer expectations.
Child Support
Virtual mediation can be used to address:
- Table child support
- The income used to calculate support
- Annual income disclosure
- Special or extraordinary expenses
- Childcare expenses
- Medical and dental expenses
- Extracurricular activities
- Post-secondary education costs
- Retroactive child support
- Procedures for reviewing support
Financial records can be exchanged electronically and reviewed during the mediation process.
Spousal Support
The parties may discuss:
- Whether spousal support should be paid
- The amount of support
- The duration of support
- Monthly support
- Lump-sum support
- Income changes
- Review dates
- Termination events
- Life insurance securing support
- The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines
The mediator can help identify the areas of agreement and disagreement while remaining neutral between the parties.
Property and Debt Division
Online mediation services can also address financial and property issues, including:
- The matrimonial home
- A possible sale or buyout
- Bank accounts
- Investments
- Pensions
- Vehicles
- Business interests
- Personal property
- Credit cards
- Lines of credit
- Family debts
- Equalization of net family property
More complicated financial matters may require appraisals, pension valuations, business valuations or assistance from accountants and other professionals.
Those documents and opinions can still be incorporated into a remote mediation process.
Separation Agreements
Mediation can help married or common-law spouses negotiate the terms of a comprehensive separation agreement.
A separation agreement may address:
- Parenting arrangements
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Property division
- Debts
- The matrimonial home
- Insurance
- Future disclosure obligations
- Procedures for resolving future disputes
Once the terms have been resolved, they should be properly documented. Each party may also obtain independent legal advice before signing the final agreement.
Changes to Existing Arrangements
Virtual family mediation may also be used where the parties already have an agreement or court order but need to address a change.
This may include:
- Changes to a parenting schedule
- Changes in a child’s needs
- Relocation issues
- Income changes
- Child support reviews
- Spousal support reviews
- New expenses
- Disagreements about how an existing term should operate
The parties may be able to resolve the new issue without reopening every part of their previous agreement.
Other Family Disputes
Remote mediation may also be available for:
- Grandparent contact disputes
- Family communication issues
- Co-parenting communication disagreements
- Disputes arising during reconciliation
- Other family-related issues that may benefit from neutral facilitation
Suitability is assessed individually during the separate intake process.
Why Choose Aaries Family Law for Virtual Mediation?
Family Law Experience
Our mediator is an Ontario family lawyer with a family mediation certificate from York University and more than 10 years of mediation experience addressing parenting, support, property and separation agreement issues.
His legal practice is exclusively family law, including family court experience across Ontario.
He also holds a Master of Education, a background that supports the parenting side of mediation – building schedules and communication arrangements that work for children and families in practice, not just on paper.
This legal background helps keep the mediation focused on the issues that must be resolved and the information required to make informed decisions.
The mediator remains neutral and does not act as either party’s individual lawyer.
An Affordable Alternative
Mediation is generally a more affordable way to resolve family law issues than contested court proceedings, because the parties share one neutral professional and work through the issues directly.
Virtual sessions also remove travel, parking and time-off costs.
A Transparent Process
Our separate intake calls are not used to collect competing private versions of the case.
The important substantive information is generally introduced during the first joint session so that both parties can hear it, respond to it and correct any misunderstandings.
This distinguishes the screening and intake stage from the actual mediation of the family’s issues.
Available Across Ontario
Online mediation removes geographical barriers.
The parties can participate from different homes, different cities or different countries while working with the same Ontario mediator.
There is no need to coordinate travel, parking or a physical meeting location.
Telephone or Video Sessions
Virtual mediation can take place by telephone or video.
Telephone mediation is simple and accessible and does not require specialized equipment. Video meetings may also be used where appropriate.
Help Formalizing the Outcome
Reaching an understanding during mediation is only part of the process.
Where the parties resolve their issues, the terms should generally be recorded in a properly drafted separation agreement or another appropriate written document.
Our mediator can generally assist with drafting the separation agreement for an additional fee, or the parties may take the mediated terms to their independent lawyers.
Benefits of Online Divorce and Family Mediation
No Travel
The parties do not need to travel to an office, coordinate transportation or pay for parking.
Separate Locations
Each person can participate from a separate and private location.
The parties do not need to share a meeting room, office or waiting area.
Greater Scheduling Flexibility
Remote mediation may be easier to schedule around employment, parenting, caregiving and other responsibilities.
Province-Wide Access
Families throughout Ontario can use the same mediation process regardless of the distance between them.
Efficient Document Exchange
Income records, financial documents, parenting proposals and other materials can be exchanged electronically and discussed during the mediation.
A Potential Alternative to Court
Mediation gives the parties an opportunity to negotiate their own resolution rather than asking a judge to decide the disputed issues.
A mediated outcome can often be more detailed and tailored to the family’s circumstances because the parties participate directly in creating it.
The Ability to Resolve Some Issues
The parties do not necessarily need to resolve the entire case for mediation to be useful.
They may reach agreement on some matters and narrow the remaining issues that require further negotiation or court involvement.
What if We Cannot Speak to Each Other Directly?
The first substantive mediation session is generally conducted jointly because transparency is an important part of our process.
However, this does not mean that every discussion must take place with both parties speaking directly to each other.
Where appropriate, the mediator may use separate discussions or shuttle mediation later in the process.
In a shuttle format, the mediator communicates separately with each party and carries information and proposals between them.
The appropriate format will depend on the circumstances and will be discussed as part of the mediation process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Virtual Mediation
What is virtual mediation?
Virtual mediation is a process in which a neutral mediator helps the parties discuss and resolve family law issues by telephone or video rather than through an in-person meeting.
It may also be called online mediation, remote mediation, online family mediation or online dispute resolution.
Do both parties have to agree to mediate?
Yes.
Mediation is voluntary. Both parties must agree to participate and must be willing to engage meaningfully in the process.
The parties do not need to agree about the outcome before mediation begins.
Do we have to be in the same location?
No.
Each party can participate from a separate location.
Depending on the stage of the process and the circumstances, the parties may speak together with the mediator or the mediator may conduct separate discussions.
What equipment do I need?
Telephone mediation generally requires only a reliable telephone connection and a private location.
For video mediation, you will need a computer, tablet or smartphone, a reliable internet connection and a private space where you can speak without interruption.
Is information provided during the intake confidential from the other party?
The separate intakes are used primarily for screening, explaining the mediation process and assessing suitability.
We intentionally collect only limited substantive case information during the separate intakes.
The important facts and positions are generally introduced during the first joint mediation session so that both parties can hear, understand and respond to them.
Can we mediate if court proceedings have already started?
Potentially, yes.
The parties can attempt mediation before a court case begins or while a case is already underway.
Existing court dates and procedural deadlines continue unless they are changed by the court. Each party remains responsible for monitoring and complying with those obligations.
Can virtual mediation address both parenting and financial issues?
Yes.
The same mediation process may address parenting arrangements, child support, spousal support, property division and the terms of a separation agreement.
The documents and preparation required will depend on the issues being negotiated.
Does the mediator make a decision?
No.
The mediator does not decide who is right and does not impose an outcome.
The mediator helps the parties identify the issues, exchange information, communicate and explore possible resolutions.
Is the mediator my lawyer?
No.
The mediator is neutral and cannot act as the individual lawyer for either party.
The mediator may provide general legal information to support the discussion, but each party may obtain independent legal advice about their rights and the proposed agreement.
Is an agreement reached during mediation legally binding?
A discussion or verbal understanding reached during mediation is not necessarily the final legal agreement.
The mediated terms should be recorded in an appropriate written document.
In Ontario, a domestic contract such as a separation agreement must be in writing, signed by the parties and witnessed.
Can the mediator draft our separation agreement?
Because our mediator is also a family lawyer, a separation agreement can generally be drafted as part of the process for an additional fee.
The parties may also choose to take the mediated terms or mediation summary to their independent lawyers.
What happens if we cannot resolve everything?
The parties may still resolve some issues even if they cannot resolve the entire case.
Unresolved matters can be addressed through further mediation, negotiation between lawyers, another dispute-resolution process or court where necessary.
Start Virtual Family Mediation in Ontario
You do not need to have every document collected or every issue organized before contacting us.
The first step is to arrange the separate intake process so that we can explain how mediation works, conduct the required screening and determine whether both parties are prepared to proceed.
Aaries Family Law provides virtual family mediation by telephone or video to clients throughout Ontario.
Call 613-453-2275 or toll-free 1-800-838-9929, or request a callback below. You can also email mark@aariesfamilylaw.ca.