Contested Wills | Will Interpretations | Passing of Accounts | Trustee Disputes
Variations of Trusts | Claims for Services to an Estate | Estate Administration
Estate Planning | Family Law Act Claims | Dependant Support Claims
Mental Incompetency Litigation | Mediation and Arbitration Services
Mediation and Arbitration Services
Mediation is one way for people to settle disputes outside of court. In mediation, a neutral third party (the mediator) helps the disputing parties resolve the conflict. A mediator, unlike a judge, does not decide the case or impose a resolution. The mediator's role is to help the people involved in the dispute to communicate and negotiate with each other in a constructive manner and to find a resolution based on common understanding and mutual agreement. Mediation allows for creative solutions to disputes in a way that is not possible at a trial. In Ontario, Rule 75.1 requires all parties involved in estate disputes in the cities of Toronto or Ottawa to attend at a mandatory mediation session. Where not mandatory, parties frequently attend mediation sessions voluntarily. Mediation allows for a quick, cost effective, creative and private way of resolving an estate dispute.
Arbitration is a legal alternative to litigation whereby the parties to a dispute agree to submit their respective positions (through agreement or hearing) to a neutral third party (the arbitrator or arbiter) for resolution.
Brian A. Schnurr has acted as mediator on numerous occasions and is available to conduct mediations at our offices. Parties are invited to contact our Alternative Dispute Resolution co-ordinator, Denise Foster at 416-860-1057 or by e-mail for more information.
