Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate for mediation. When court is your only choice, it is imperative to have alternative options if one cannot afford a lawyer. The average cost of divorce in Ontario (protracted and high conflict) is approximately $50,000 per litigant, while also possibly taking up to of 5 years to resolve! I provide an alternative option if mediation fails/is not an option and a lawyer isn’t a possibility.

Pro Se comes from Latin and roughly means “for oneself.” It is a legal term for individuals who choose to represent themselves in court. In Canada, this is often described as being a “self-represented litigant”. This can be a daunting undertaking and should not be taken lightly as there is often precious cargo like children involved.

A pro se litigant is responsible for:
• Preparing and filing court documents
• Following court rules and deadlines
• Presenting evidence and arguments in court

As an accredited mediator, registered social worker and psychotherapist and child protection mediator, I have an interesting mash up of skills. My social work background allows me to demonstrate compassion for the entire family, while my mediation expertise allows me to create practical and logical solutions. I am also a trained child play therapist, which gives me expert insight into the developmental needs of children; and how to support families to create the best environments for children to thrive. For example:

• I will provide you with a list of the documents you need for your file, with step-by-step support as to how to access the required documents

• I will review your documents before you submit them to ensure accuracies or missing content

I really enjoy helping pro se clients because my job allows me to empower individuals with choices to manage their family needs on their terms. Many people feel adrift and at a disadvantage if they don’t have a lawyer, especially if the other party does. I provide education, resources and information about filing documents in the most efficient manner, so they are not delayed by inaccuracies or mistakes.

The most common thing I hear from clients who hire me for pro se support is: “I wish I had known about this option sooner. I could have saved so much time and money”. If one party is reluctant to participate in mediation or not open to discussing the dissolution of the relationship, sometimes filing is the only option to get things moving. From my experience, once served, the resistant party is often more willing to engage in alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation once court action is initiated (* not in cases involving intimate partner violence*).

I also provide curated resources for community legal resources, and other relevant agencies that can support you navigate the family law system.