Mediation is a way that families can preserve family relationships while sharing the family cottage or while deciding what happens to the cottage for the next generation.
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At The Cottage Mediator, we get to the heart of your family’s issues by finding out how family members are struggling and bringing everyone together to find a resolution that works.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a form of dispute resolution in which a neutral third party, the mediator, helps parties to reach a mutually acceptable solution to their dispute. It is flexible and allows the parties to come up with creative solutions that meet their unique needs and interests.
In mediation, the mediator facilitates communication and negotiation between the parties. The mediator does not make decisions or impose solutions on the parties but helps them to identify their interests, needs, and concerns, explore possible options, and reach a voluntary agreement.
Learn More
The Cottage Mediator can help with issues around family cottage sharing, cottage succession planning, and cottage co-ownership.
How does The Cottage Mediator work?
The Cottage Mediator offers virtual mediation that is conducted online, typically through video conferencing. Online mediation offers convenience, flexibility, and cost savings for the parties involved. The Cottage Mediator currently offers mediation during evening hours (after 5:00 pm) and on the weekend.
Once a family member reaches out, Principal Mediator, Jen Norman, will schedule a call to find out more about your family’s unique circumstances. The Cottage Mediator will schedule private interviews with each person involved in the mediation. These interviews will be a chance for Jen to listen to each person’s story, ask questions, and get a sense of the key issues for the mediation.
Jen will gather everyone involved, virtually. She will come to the mediation session ready to identify the main issues and facilitate the conversation – helping the family hear each other’s points of view, maintain communication ground rules, and steer the conversation away from grievances to outcomes. Jen will lead the family through discussions to generate solutions that work for everyone.
Ideally, families leave mediation with the family relationships preserved – and with an agreement on how the cottage will be shared, managed, or passed on to the next generation.
Fees
Virtual 3 hour Mediation Session - $750.00 + any applicable HST
- Includes: up to three family members/family groups; half-hour pre-mediation call with each family member/group; preparation time; up to 3 hours of mediation; Memorandum of Understanding drafted upon the parties reaching an agreement; and up to one half-hour of post-mediation follow-up if required by the parties
Other Services
Virtual Facilitated Family Discussion - $600.00 + any applicable HST
- A neutral facilitator will guide your family discussion and ensure that all issues are heard and that each family member has a voice
- Includes: up to three family members/family groups; half-hour pre-discussion call with each family member/group; up to 3 hours of facilitated discussion
Advisory Sessions - $200.00/hr + any applicable HST
- Sessions with individuals to help them prepare for difficult conversations with family about cottage succession planning
- Advice on, for example, how to start the discussion, what issues to include in the discussion, and what issues to discuss with financial advisors and estate lawyers
