Family Mediation BC — Settle Your Separation Without Court | Sea to Sky Law

Mediation could be the right path for you.

Based on your answers, resolving this outside of court looks like the best fit. Read on to see how it works, and reach out whenever you're ready.

A mediator is neutral and cannot advise you. Your lawyer is on your side, and we always recommend your own lawyer attends mediation with you.

Resolve disputes faster, cheaper, and with dignity.

Alternative dispute resolution for family law, divorce, and commercial conflicts across BC.

Meet with our mediator to discuss your dispute, goals, and what resolution looks like for you.

Gather documents, financial information, and other evidence. Your lawyer can help prepare your case.

Attend sessions with the other party (and lawyers if you choose) and private sessions to explore options.

Create a binding settlement. Your lawyer reviews the draft, and both parties sign. Done.

Learn about arbitration and why it may be the right choice for your dispute. ADR BC provides expert guidance on alternative dispute resolution options.

A neutral mediator helps you and the other party work toward a fair agreement. Sessions are held by secure video or phone, at a pace that suits your family.

Practical BC-specific guides on mediation, med-arb, collaborative divorce, and resolving family disputes without court.

Contact us today to schedule your mediation consultation. Let's find a solution that works for everyone.

Family mediation in BC typically costs $200–$400 per hour, shared between the parties. A full separation mediated in 4–6 sessions will generally cost each spouse $2,000–$6,000 — a fraction of the $30,000–$150,000+ that contested litigation can reach. Andrew Liggett offers a free intake call to discuss your situation and likely costs.

What is the difference between mediation and arbitration in BC?

A mediated agreement becomes legally binding once both parties sign it as a written contract. Before signing, each party should have independent legal advice from their own lawyer. Once signed and reviewed, the agreement is enforceable in BC court — and can be filed as a consent order for additional enforceability.

We always recommend that your own lawyer attends mediation sessions with you. A lawyer can give you legal advice as the discussion unfolds, and helps you avoid making decisions under pressure. BC family law also strongly recommends independent legal advice before signing any mediated agreement.

Med-arb (mediation-arbitration) is a hybrid process: the same neutral first tries to help you reach a mediated agreement, and if mediation doesn't fully resolve the dispute, the same person switches to arbitration and issues a binding award. It combines the benefits of mediation (you control the outcome) with the finality of arbitration (a decision if you're stuck).

Can mediation be used for child custody disputes in BC?

Yes — mediation is one of the most effective ways to resolve parenting disputes in BC. Mediating custody and parenting time arrangements keeps decisions in your hands (and out of a judge's), preserves the co-parenting relationship, and is less traumatic for children than contested court proceedings. The BC Family Law Act actively encourages family dispute resolution before going to court.

Yes. Mediation in BC is strictly confidential. Nothing said during mediation sessions can be used as evidence in court if the process breaks down — with narrow exceptions for disclosures of child abuse or immediate safety risks. This confidentiality is one reason mediation often produces more candid, durable agreements than litigation.

Family Mediation BC — Settle Your Separation Without Court | Sea to Sky Law™

Looking for family mediation in BC? Resolve divorce, child custody, and spousal support through mediation — faster, private, and less costly than court. Book a consultation today.

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Resolve disputes in months, not years. Mediation moves at your pace, not court's.

Spend thousands, not tens of thousands. Avoid legal battles that drain your resources.

Collaborative approach protects co-parenting bonds and family connections.

Create solutions that work for your family—not what a judge decides.

Team-based approach with lawyers, mediators, and professionals

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What it costs, how long it takes, and when court is unavoidable — compared side by side for BC families.

How mediation-arbitration works, when to use it, and what to expect from a combined process under BC family law.

A team-based approach that keeps both spouses out of court — how the collaborative process works in British Columbia.

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Family Mediation BC — Sea to Sky Law. Andrew Liggett is a certified Family Law Mediator and Arbitrator through the Law Society of British Columbia. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which a neutral third party helps separating spouses reach their own agreement on parenting, support, and property matters. Mediation is generally faster and less costly than court proceedings and produces agreements that both parties have shaped and are more likely to follow. Arbitration is a private adjudication process where the arbitrator issues a binding decision called an award. Med-arb combines both processes. Collaborative divorce and parenting coordination services are also available. Sea to Sky Law has served British Columbia families and businesses since 1991. Mediation is often faster, less costly, and far less stressful than going to court. In a mediation session, a neutral mediator helps both parties identify what matters most, explore options for parenting time, support, and property division, and draft a written agreement they both understand. Sessions can be held by phone or secure video, so you can take part from home without the strain of an adversarial courtroom. Mediation is voluntary, confidential, and can be used at any stage of separation, including before any court application has been filed. Many families use mediation to build a parenting plan that works for their children, then ask a lawyer to review the final terms before they are formalized. Sea to Sky Law serves clients across British Columbia by phone or secure video conference. Call (778) 728-0208 to ask whether mediation is right for your family.
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