BLOG

We are sharing revised hours of operation for the Access for Parents and Children Ontario (APCO) program. Please review all changes carefully, as they take effect on May 1st, 2026. APCO provides supervised and supported access services for families navigating parenting arrangements through the courts. As the program continues to evolve its services, the following…

When relationships end, deciding what to do with shared assets can be stressful. For people with pets, disputes over animals can be especially emotional. In many cases, pets are seen as family members long before they are recognized legally. The Pro-Bone-o Pet Dispute Clinic works to address this gap and provide support to pet owners…

Separation and divorce can be especially challenging when parenting conflict is high. In some cases, courts recommend or require parents to complete parenting education programs. In other situations, parents choose to enrol voluntarily to build skills that support healthier co-parenting relationships. Below is an overview of virtual parenting programs. These programs are designed to help…

We are proud to be named Toronto’s top family mediation service by The Best Toronto’s annual ranking. This list highlights the city’s five best services that assist families through separation and conflict with professional and caring support. Toronto Family Mediation Services (mediate393 inc.) was ranked number one in this review. The rankings consider expertise, range of…

This post offers a reflective perspective from Lynette Weber, a Mediator in Training with Riverdale Mediation, following her experience presenting the Mandatory Information Program. Lynette shares key insights gained from the process and reflects on how the program supports participants navigating the family law system for the first time.…

Originally published October 20, 2025 By Hilary Linton       After more than a year of research, writing, drafting, edits and more edits, I am so pleased to announce that Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance has just published a complete, comprehensive guide for family law professionals on the topic of screening for power imbalances and family…

Access for Parents and Children in Ontario (APCO) is pleased to share several important updates about their program operations, and services. New Parenting Centre Locations APCO now operates two additional parenting centres: Toronto East Parenting Centre (Warden & Eglinton) Toronto Central Parenting Centre (Yonge & Sheppard, attached to their head office) Weekend hours remain unchanged…

By Rhodes Thompson-Chase The 2024-25 statistics for Toronto’s family mediation services, funded by Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, are in, and once again, our settlement rates were exceptional.   Over 88% of court-based (on-site) mediations in the Ontario Court of Justice (311 Jarvis St. and 47 Sheppard Ave) reached a full or partial settlement, more…

By: Rhodes Thompson-Chase             Access to justice in family law is an ongoing challenge in Ontario. Many litigants facing separation, divorce, parenting, or support disputes struggle to afford a lawyer. A recent article in National Magazine highlights the critical role of pro bono services in bridging this gap but also…

            by Rhodes Thompson-Chase Spousal support is a common issue when couples separate or divorce. While the determination of entitlement, amount, and duration of spousal support falls under provincial legislation, such as Ontario’s Family Law Act or the Divorce Act, the tax treatment of spousal support is governed by federal legislation, specifically section 56.1…

By Roland Campbell Like the dozens of concerts she had attended in the past decades, all heads turned toward the Hon. Justice Curtis as she took the mic and to the stage, one final time, albeit on the second-floor patio bar of The Keg in North York. The audience was there to celebrate her Honour’s…

                by Rhodes Thompson-Chase When families separate, ensuring that child and spousal support obligations are met is critical for the financial stability and well-being of those involved, especially children. One of the legal tools available in Canada to assist with the enforcement and establishment of support orders is…

By: Rhodes Thompson-Chase Dealing with family law issues can be overwhelming. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) offers Family Duty Counsel services to eligible individuals, providing crucial support and guidance. Service delivery can vary depending on location and available resources, with assistance offered in English and French, and free interpretation available for other languages. Understanding the scope…

  A legal paternity test is a DNA test that can be used in court or for government applications to prove a parent-child relationship. It is different from standard paternity tests because a special sample collection process is required to ensure the accuracy of the results. Here are some things to know about legal paternity…

    by Montana Schott My final interview during my summer placement with mediate393 was with Maria Fava from the Ontario Court of Justice at 47 Sheppard Ave, in Toronto. Maria is a Manager for the family court administrative office, where she oversees an array of operations within the court. Our meeting began in the…

by Montana Schott As part of my summer internship with Mediate393 I had the privilege of speaking with Bill Lasovich, a Client Service Representative (CSR) in the Toronto Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Ave. Bill has a great sense of humor, and throughout our interview I found myself laughing at his anecdotes from…

          by Montana Schott, summer intern (As part of her summer co-op with Toronto Family Mediation Services /mediate393, Montana reached out to some of our court partners to learn more about their work. She met with Kim Maraj, Supervisor of Court Operations (SCO) at the Ontario Court of Justice, 311 Jarvis…

By: Lindsay Kertland |LL.B, LL.M, AccFM |Mediator, Parenting Coordinator Being the “new kid” has historically been challenging, whether it’s at a new school, a new job, or moving to a new town with your kids and having to navigate a whole set of new parents. The “new kid” theme has fuelled novels and movies and…

Family lawyers and self-represented litigants in Toronto’s Ontario Court of Justice will soon need to ensure they begin their applications in the right court. Starting September 1, 2024, all new family cases in Toronto OCJ shall be started at either 47 Sheppard Ave or 311 Jarvis St, depending on the electoral district of the Applicant…

Welcome to our blog series featuring the exceptional professionals at Toronto Family Mediation Services. In this series, we will introduce you to our diverse team of experienced mediators and IRCs, each dedicated to helping families navigate complex issues with compassion and expertise. Whether you’re dealing with divorce, custody arrangements, or other family disputes, our professionals…

Welcome to our blog series featuring the exceptional professionals at Toronto Family Mediation Services. In this series, we will introduce you to our diverse team of experienced mediators and IRCs, each dedicated to helping families navigate complex issues with compassion and expertise. Whether you’re dealing with divorce, custody arrangements, or other family disputes, our professionals…

Welcome to our blog series featuring the exceptional professionals at Toronto Family Mediation Services. In this series, we will introduce you to our diverse team of experienced mediators and IRCs, each dedicated to helping families navigate complex issues with compassion and expertise. Whether you’re dealing with divorce, custody arrangements, or other family disputes, our professionals…

by Montana Schott, summer intern Montana, in her third semester of Humber College’s Dispute Resolution Program , is spending her summer shadowing the Information & Referral Coordinators in Toronto’s family courts, among other things. She will be writing a series of blog posts sharing what she is learning. This is her second post. A theme…

By Montana Schott, summer intern                 Montana, in her third semester of Humber College’s Dispute Resolution Program , is spending her summer shadowing the Information & Referral Coordinators in Toronto’s family courts, among other things. She will be writing a series of blog posts sharing what she is…

                When taking the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program at Humber college the curriculum highlighted a variety of industries that can benefit from ADR. In first semester students were introduced to ADR and its many applications while a foundation was set for our second semester, which focused on…

              by Hilary Linton On February 1, 2024, I spoke to about 200 webinar registrants from across North America about the latest tool to help family mediators do good work— the MASIC-S online screening tool. The webinar was hosted by London Ontario’s Centre for Research and Education on Violence…

          By Cindy Holovac Leithead Have you separated from your partner? To Counsel –  Do you have a client who wants to settle without going to family court, but cannot afford an expensive private mediator? To Mental Health Professionals – Do you have clients trying to manage the turmoil of separation…

          It is a free, confidential one-on-one with an accredited, skilled family mediator. It takes about 30-45 minutes. In that time the mediator will discuss the file in confidence with each party, to learn whether there are any issues that might be quickly resolved in mediation. It takes place either virtually…

Our summer student Amelia Charles spent some time reaching out to the agencies and partners we work with as the family law information service provider in Toronto’s family courts. In this post we share information from the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office Do you have an issue with an Ontario provincial or municipal service? Are you having…

Our summer student Amelia Charles spent some time reaching out to the agencies and partners we work with as the family law information service provider in Toronto’s family courts. In this post we share information from The Action Group (TAG).   The Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG), in partnership with the Law Society…

Toronto’s family information and mediation service provider, Toronto Family Mediation Services (TFMS) is launching a partnership with the Family Justice Centre (FJC). This partnership provides streamlined access to legal support for qualified family mediation clients who do not have lawyers. A New Approach to Legal Assistance for Unrepresented Litigants and Separating Couples TFMS provides free mediation on-site, either in person…

By Amelia Charles Amelia Charles is our new summer student. She is at Toronto Metropolitan University working towards a degree in psychology. I have no history in law or mediation, yet I landed my first-ever job at a family law and mediation office working for mediate 393 this summer. This would be a fantastic opportunity…

Janet Jansen (Applicant) and David DiCecco (Respondent) had a long-standing battle over financial disclosure. After years of disagreements over the Respondent’s financial disclosure, Justice Sherr issued a decision on a motion that underscores the importance of ongoing full, frank disclosure for determining child support. Key Take Away from This Case Justice Sherr confirmed that the…

Countless survivors of intimate partner violence and family abuse require supports to navigate the family law court process. Unfortunately, they can meet several barriers to accessing those necessary supports along the way. Whether self-represented or with counsel, it can be difficult to find professionals who are properly educated in intimate partner violence and power imbalances.…

                By: Rhodes Thompson-Chase This post includes a detailed commentary on the Supreme Court of Canada decision in the Anderson case. In a recent Saskatchewan case that made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada, a couple’s divorce proceedings became contentious when their original agreement was called…

We have our year-end stats and they tell a great story. Our onsite case loads dropped during the pandemic by far less than the provincial average. We believe this is because we were able to pivot quickly to effective online mediation in all three courts. (361 University for the Superior Court of Justice, and 311…

Our roster recently had the pleasure of hosting a Caselines “Lunch and Learn” Workshop presented by Lorna Yates. Below are 5 tips to help you work with Self Represented Litigants using Caselines. 1. Get into your case file: Use UPDATE CASE to get into your matter: it is much faster than REVIEW EVIDENCE and will…

At TFMS we work daily with the courts administration and judges to make our services more accessible to the public and helpful to them. Here are some things we have recently been doing: In February, Hilary Linton met with Lainie Basman, the new Counsel at the Office of the Chief Justice to discuss our services.…

  I had the pleasure to interview Kashmala Qasim, a PhD candidate in History, Theory and Critical Psychology and Operations Manager with the Khalil Center. Khalil Center is a psychological and spiritual community wellness center advancing the professional practice of psychology rooted in Islamic principles. The center works to address the widespread prevalence of social,…

                by Lindsay Kertland Parenting coordination (PC) is a dispute resolution process for parents who have a parenting plan in place and need help communicating with each other, interpreting the details of their plan and working through disagreements about it. Often a PC can help parents agree in…

Connecting with community resources is vital to our work with the public. We work hard to get the word out about our government funded family information and mediation services. Here is a summary of some of  the outreach we did last quarter to community agencies and organizations. We recently added a page on our website…

We work hard to get the word out about our government funded family information and mediation services. Here is a summary of some of what we did last quarter. Hilary Linton was very busy this last quarter sharing her expertise on the mediation process. She presented at the Ontario Bar Association on the topic of…

We work hard to get the word out about our government funded family information and mediation services. Here is a summary of some of what we did last quarter. We designed and printed new business cards, brochures and banners. We have given these materials with court staff to be shared with the public. We have…

Liaising regularly with the judiciary of the courts is an important part of our role. Read about some of what we are doing here. We attended Bench and Bar meetings and reported on our shift towards in-person services, accessibility of mediators on motions and conference dates, mediation uptake, IRC role and the Mandatory Information Program.…

  By: Alisha Cater-Benavides, Chavelle Sheckleford & Preeti Asthana The Family Intake office is the central hub, where clients can file family law documents, speak to Family law clerks for support, get sworn documents, pick up divorce certificates and much more. Mediate393 Information Referral Coordinators work very closely with the Family Intake Office and most…

  by Hilary Linton We recently came across six client satisfaction surveys from our onsite family mediation and information service that had fallen through the pandemic crack. Sometimes, we all need a little encouragement that we matter; that we are making a difference. Reading these surveys gave me confidence that we are indeed helping people.…

By Rhodes Thompson-Chase Intimate Partner Violence and animal abuse are closely linked. Through my discussion with SafePet Ontario Executive Director, Hayley Glaholt, it’s clear she is doing vital work. SafePet Ontario is a growing volunteer run organization that coordinates foster care for pets of individuals fleeing domestic violence. The program helps survivors seek safety while…

Our team recently completed training with Julian Granka Ferguson and Kabilan Kana regarding IT and Cybersecurity for ADR Professionals. There are so many ways that our clients’ data could be breached. As ADR professionals, its our job to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of all our clients’ information. Here are 10 tips to ensure the…

By: Hilary Linton and Cathi Wentworth  Toronto Family Mediation Services (www.mediate393.ca)       We recently interviewed Jason Goodman, the Acting Director at the Family Justice Centre.     This initiative, operated by Pro Bono Students Canada, hosts virtual legal clinics for Ontarians dealing with family law issues who are unable to afford a lawyer.    We…

By: Rhodes Thompson-Chase I had the pleasure to interview Brandon Hay, founder of the Black Daddies Club. Black Daddies Club sprung from Hay’s own experiences learning that he would be a father at 24. Like many other young men, Hay did not grow up with a consistent fatherly presence, and worried about his own abilities…

by Our IRC Meagan Coming back to work in person has been a great opportunity, both for us working at 47 Sheppard to be able to converse with clients and colleagues in person again, but also a great opportunity for clients to interact with us face to face. It has allowed the opportunity for clients…

By: Mediator-In-Training Julia Tremain I have been a family law lawyer for more years than I care to remember, and as such I have had the benefit of participating in several mediations, both as counsel for a party and as counsel for the child or children.  I am happy to see that mediation and other…

Written By: IRC Alisha Cater   As an IRC I like to approach each day like an empty rice bowl. The empty rice bowl is a well-known Buddhist story reflecting a beginner’s mind; a fresh start. Where each grain of rice that fills your bowl illustrates a new interaction, a new perspective, new learning. I…

Written by: Sari Goldman, MSW, RSW, AccFM Having completed all required course work through Riverdale Mediation, there was no question I hoped for an internship with the organization. Through the courses I realized how aligned my background and interests were with Riverdale, especially with my background in mental health and intimate partner violence. As a…

By: Tobi Ajibolade As an Information and Resource Referral Coordinator, I was grateful to speak on the second day of the program held by the LSO while hearing various perspectives and practices in managing domestic violence in family law files. Domestic violence and abuse is a nuanced topic that can involves complex pieces such as;…

by Ildiko Moktassi This short workshop was an excellent introduction for mediators and a great refresher for family law lawyers regarding the different sources of income and how they may affect income calculation for support purposes. The presenter, family law lawyer and mediator, Angela Princewill, was knowledgeable, friendly and funny. She did an excellent job…

By: Toronto Family Mediation Services President Hilary Linton   We have come across an unreported decision from 2019 that we think all mediators should read. In Arbuckle v Arbuckle (2019 ONSC 7453), Ms. Arbuckle sought a copy of the mediator’s notes. She took the position that the parties had reached an agreement in mediation and that…

This post highlights some of the "pandemic trends" that Information and Referral Coordinator Meagan Bensadoun has noticed.…

Effective August 1, 2021, judges can combine mandatory conferences if the parties have tried mediation.…

By: TFMS Mediator Raheena Dahya This series is designed to provide you with some tips and activities to assist you in preparing for your family law mediation. Get To ‘Yes’ With Yourself William Ury, one of the most preeminent writers on negotiation theory and tactics, describes how to use negotiation tactics with yourself before you…