Mediation Services in Ottawa, Ontario
At DTSW we support both conflicted and amicable separating couples in Ottawa, Ontario, and surrounding areas, including Kanata, Rockland, Almonte, Kemptville, Winchester, Carleton Place, Arnprior and Smiths Falls, with our unique brand of mediation.
Our Soft Landing Separation and Divorce Settlement Method. Our mission is to provide clear and effective solutions for complex situations, guiding couples through challenging times with affordable and professional support.
We aim to make the separation process smoother and more manageable for everyone involved.
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The Information First Model
The Information First Model from DTSW Mediation Services ensures a smooth and efficient separation process for couples. By starting with comprehensive client discussions, we understand your goals and concerns, acting as your intermediary.
Our method includes clear financial disclosures using our online tools, followed by a thorough financial walkthrough to ensure fair asset and liability division. This structured approach fosters effective communication and informed decision-making, helping couples achieve equitable settlements and secure futures.
Our Separation and Divorce Process
Soft Landing Settlement Method
Our Soft Landing Separation and Divorce Settlement Method is a unique approach designed to minimize conflict and ensure a smooth transition for families undergoing separation or divorce. This method focuses on cooperative negotiation, open communication, and practical solutions tailored to your family’s needs. We guide you through each step of the process, providing support and expertise to achieve a fair and amicable settlement.
Our Separation and Divorce Process
Soft Landing Settlement Method
Our Soft Landing Separation and Divorce Settlement Method is a unique approach designed to minimize conflict and ensure a smooth transition for families undergoing separation or divorce. This method focuses on cooperative negotiation, open communication, and practical solutions tailored to your family’s needs. We guide you through each step of the process, providing support and expertise to achieve a fair and amicable settlement.
Our Ottawa, Ontario Mediation Services
Our Ottawa Mediation Services are crafted to assist couples in resolving their disputes amicably and efficiently. We foster open and respectful communication between parties, guiding them toward mutually beneficial agreements without the need for costly and stressful court battles.
Our approach emphasizes reducing conflict, promoting cooperation, and ensuring all decisions are fair and equitable. Whether addressing child arrangements, property division, spousal support, or a Matrimonial Home Buyout, our experienced mediators are here to support you through every step of the process.
Zoom Video Mediations
Zoom Video Divorce Mediation stands out as a unique and effective method for facilitating divorce mediation, offering a host of features that set it apart from traditional in-person mediation:
Accessibility
- Convenience and Flexibility: With Zoom Video Divorce Mediation, couples can participate from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for travel and allowing for more flexibility in scheduling, a significant advantage for those with busy schedules.
- Geographical Reach: It enables mediation for couples where both parties may not reside in Ottawa, Ontario, or may live far apart in different locations, including cities or countries.
Efficiency
- Time-Saving: Virtual meetings can be scheduled more frequently, often leading to a faster resolution of issues.
- Cost-Effective: Zoom Video Divorce Mediation can be more affordable, as it eliminates the need for physical office space, travel expenses, and related costs, a significant benefit for those looking to manage their finances during the divorce process.
Comfort and Neutrality
- Neutral Environment: Both parties may feel more at ease in their own space, which can reduce stress and facilitate more productive discussions.
- Private and Secure: Zoom Video Divorce Mediation provides secure, private meeting rooms where discussions can occur without interruption. This ensures a safe and confidential environment, giving both parties the peace of mind they need during this sensitive process.
Enhanced Communication
- Technology Integration: The real-time sharing of screens, documents, and other resources enhances the mediation process.
- Recording Sessions: With both parties’ consent, sessions can be recorded for later review, ensuring clarity and transparency.
Flexibility and Adaptability
- Customizable Sessions: Mediators can tailor sessions to the specific needs of the couple, whether that involves shorter, more frequent meetings or longer, in-depth discussions.
- Use of Breakout Rooms: Zoom’s breakout room feature allows mediators to have private discussions with each party, similar to in-person caucusing.
Psychological Comfort
- Reduced Confrontation: Virtual mediation with Zoom can significantly lessen the confrontation in face-to-face meetings, helping to keep emotions in check and providing a sense of relief during this challenging time.
- Less Formal: The informal setting of a home environment can make the process feel less intimidating, promoting openness and cooperation.
Overall Effectiveness
- High Satisfaction Rates: Many couples report high levels of satisfaction with the process and outcomes of virtual mediation.
- Successful Outcomes: Zoom mediation is as effective as traditional in-person mediation in reaching agreements and resolving disputes.
In summary, Zoom Video Divorce Mediation offers a practical, efficient, and effective alternative to traditional in-person mediation. It provides numerous benefits that cater to the needs and circumstances of modern divorcing couples.
Your Matrimonial Home and the Ottawa, Ontario Real Estate Market
Deciding what to do with this property can be emotionally challenging and financially complex. As a Divorce Mediator and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I guide couples through the various options available to ensure decisions are fair, equitable, and in the best interests of all parties involved.
Here are some key options to consider when determining the future of your matrimonial home during separation or divorce:
- Sell the home and divide the net proceeds between both parties:
A straightforward approach that involves selling the home and dividing the net proceeds between both parties. - One Party Buys Out the Other:
One spouse purchases the other’s share of the home, taking full ownership. - Defer the Sale:
Continue co-owning the home temporarily, often until children are older or another agreed-upon time. - Rent the Home:
Rent out the property and share the rental income until a future decision is made. - Nesting Arrangement:
Children stay home while parents alternate living there according to an agreed schedule, maintaining stability for the children. - Transfer Ownership:
Transfer ownership to one spouse as part of the property settlement, possibly offset by other assets. - Co-Ownership:
Maintain joint home ownership even after the separation, possibly as an investment property. - Legal Agreements:
Create legally binding agreements detailing the terms and conditions for handling the Matrimonial Home.
Financial Statement Preparation Form 13.1 & Form 13
As a Divorce Mediator and Certified Divorce Financial Analysts, We offer a Financial Settlements service designed to assist couples in reaching fair and comprehensive financial agreements. By having a neutral third-party expert prepare your financial statements, you gain several key benefits:
- Unbiased Evaluation: As a neutral expert, I evaluate assets, debts, income, and expenses without favoring either party, ensuring an impartial assessment of your financial situation.
- Comprehensive Analysis: My service helps you thoroughly understand all financial aspects, including both immediate and long-term needs. This comprehensive analysis fosters informed decision-making.
- Enhanced Clarity: By clearly outlining financial details, I provide clarity that reduces confusion and potential conflicts, making the settlement process smoother and more transparent.
- Security and Fairness: With an objective expert involved, you can trust that the developed settlement addresses the financial security of both parties, promoting fairness and equity.
- Reduced Stress: My involvement simplifies complex financial matters, alleviating the stress and emotional strain often associated with divorce proceedings.
- Efficiency: I aim to streamline the process, helping you reach a settlement in fewer meetings, saving time and reducing costs.
By choosing my Financial Settlements service, you ensure a balanced and secure financial future, facilitating a smoother transition through the separation process.
Property Division Services
For clients residing in Ottawa, Ontario, the Ontario Family Law Act guides property division during a separation. Dividing property can often be one of the most contentious aspects of a separation. Our Property Division Services aim to simplify this process by providing clear, unbiased guidance on equitably dividing assets and property.
Our mediators strive to expand financial possibilities by considering different perspectives and strategies that may have been previously overlooked. We work diligently to ensure both parties receive a fair settlement without needing a prolonged legal battle. It’s important to understand that, in the context of Family Law, property includes everything you own and all your debts, not just real estate.
Spousal and Child Support Calculations
Child and spousal support calculations are a crucial part of your Separation Agreement. Determining the amount of support required can be complex, with many factors influencing what is appropriate.
Using state-of-the-art software and ensuring compliance with the Federal Child Support Guidelines, as well as interpreting the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, we can provide an accurate calculation that ensures the best possible future for your children and a fair outcome that addresses the needs of both parties.
Child Support Factors
Child Support Services ensure that the financial needs of your children are met following a separation or divorce. We help parents determine fair and appropriate support amounts based on income, child arrangements, and the specific needs of the children. Our goal is to ensure that children continue to receive the necessary support to thrive despite the changes in family structure.
Spousal Support Factors
Spousal Support Services help determine the financial support one spouse may need to receive from the other following a separation or divorce. We consider various factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s financial situation, and future earning potential. Our goal is to ensure a fair and sustainable support arrangement that respects both parties’ needs and circumstances.
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Co-Parenting Services
Our goal is to help disappointed spouses transition to become awesome, great co-parents.
Effective co-parenting is crucial for the well-being of your children.
Our Co-Parenting Services provide guidance and support to help parents work together in raising their children post-separation.
We offer strategies and tools to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and create a stable and nurturing environment for your children.
Parenting Plan Service
Crafting a comprehensive parenting plan can be challenging for separating or divorcing parents.
As your Family Mediator, a professional trained in conflict resolution and family law, we will guide you through this process and ensure that the parenting plan is thorough, balanced, and focused on the children’s best interests.
Rest assured, our Parenting Plan Service is designed to help you create an effective parenting plan in the most comprehensive way possible.
Here are the top 7 ways we ensure this:
Facilitating Open Communication:
Encourages honest and respectful discussions between parents.
It helps each parent express their concerns and preferences.
Identifying Key Issues:
Highlights essential topics like custody, visitation, education, and healthcare.
Ensures no critical aspect is overlooked.
Providing Expert Guidance:
Offers professional advice based on experience and knowledge of family law.
Suggests practical solutions tailored to the family’s unique situation.
Balancing Needs and Interests:
It helps parents find a fair balance between their individual needs and the best interests of their children.
Strives to create a plan that is equitable for both parties.
Drafting Clear Agreements:
Assists in writing clear, detailed, and legally sound agreements.
Ensures the parenting plan is comprehensive and unambiguous.
Managing Conflict:
It helps de-escalate tensions and resolve disagreements.
Teaches conflict resolution strategies that parents can use in the future.
Ensuring Flexibility and Adaptability:
Encourages the creation of a plan that can adapt to changing circumstances.
Includes provisions for future modifications if necessary.
Separation Agreement Preparation
Our Separation Agreement service helps couples formalize the terms of their separation in a legally binding document. This agreement covers critical issues such as asset division, child custody and support, spousal support, and living arrangements. By clearly outlining these terms, we help prevent future disputes and provide a solid foundation for both parties moving forward.
Legal Separation Services
Navigating the complexities of legal separation can be challenging. Our Legal Separation Services are designed to help you and your spouse reach a fair and amicable agreement. As a Divorce Mediator and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I guide you through the process, ensuring all legal requirements are met and your interests are protected.
11 Key Takeaways about Ottawa Mediation
- Soft Landing Method: A unique approach designed to minimize conflict and ensure a smooth transition for families.
- Mediation Services: Facilitates open communication to reach mutually beneficial agreements without court battles.
- Property Division: Simplifies the process of dividing assets fairly and equitably.
- Divorce Mediation: Reduces stress and conflict through efficient, amicable solutions.
- Legal Separation: Helps couples reach fair and amicable agreements, ensuring legal requirements are met.
- Separation Agreements: Formalizes terms of separation, covering key issues like asset division and child custody.
- Child Support: Ensures fair and appropriate support amounts based on income and needs.
- Parenting Plans: Develops comprehensive plans for shared responsibilities and decision-making.
- Zoom Mediations: Offers convenient online mediation sessions.
- Spousal Support: Determines fair support arrangements based on various factors.
- Financial Settlements: Helps couples reach fair financial agreements for clarity and security.
For more information or to schedule a Get Acquainted Call,
Discover how our Soft Landing Method can save you money and secure a brighter future with Divorce the Smartway.
Ken S, Maynard CDFA Acc.FM
![Ken Maynard with Kim and Pups Ken S Maynard CDFA Acc.FM](https://divorcethesmartway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ken-Maynard-with-Kim-and-Pups-1024x683.jpg)
Profile
Becoming a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Mediator was more than a professional choice for me; it was a deeply personal journey. In 2007, I navigated the family court system myself, an experience that was both challenging and enlightening. This journey inspired me to use my financial expertise to assist others facing similar situations. Growing up with practical money management skills from my family’s agribusiness, I further honed my abilities in Real Estate restructuring and as an analyst at two of Canada’s largest mutual fund managers.
I am dedicated to empowering parties to make informed decisions, recognizing that multiple solutions exist for every dilemma during the settlement process. My approach is rooted in patience and thoroughness, ensuring that every voice is heard.
I offer a comprehensive suite of services, leaving no stone unturned in addressing your divorce financial analysis and mediation needs. From information gathering to analysis, settlement negotiations, and document drafting, I guide you through every step of the way. Using an interest-based negotiation approach, I tailor my services to meet each couple’s unique needs.
What truly sets my services apart is our proprietary Soft Landing Divorce Settlement Method. This method is not just a tool but a testament to our commitment to your well-being. It is designed to facilitate smoother and more amicable settlements, ensuring that both parties feel heard and their needs are met.
The process begins with a “Get Acquainted” call, often conducted jointly but available individually. During this call, I will explain my hybrid fee schedule, which combines a flat fee for certain services and an hourly rate for others, and address any questions about the Soft Landing Separation and Divorce Settlement Method. Upon agreement, we proceed with the mediation process.
Many clients initially dismiss mediation due to preconceived notions or external influences. However, mediation invariably adds value to the separation process by narrowing issues and testing settlement perceptions against reality.
I am available most weekdays and work with couples across Ontario via Zoom video conference. Clients can also choose to meet with one of my highly trained associate mediators at various locations throughout the province.
Away from the Office
I have three young adult children who have grown into fine, productive members of society. My oldest is a Private Equity Banker, my middle child is a Nurse, and my youngest is a Digital Marketer. They were raised with strong values that give them the resiliency to navigate their parents’ separation at a young age and build quality personal relationships.
Away from the office, I love to chill out by taking my beach chair to our local beach. With neighbors and friends, we set our chairs at the water’s edge and let the waves roll in, enjoying conversations about nothing overly important. My hobby is digital marketing, and I take great enjoyment in growth hacking my business and sharing what I learn with my Digital Marketer daughter.
I actively attend and contribute to the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts and the Ontario Association of Family Mediation