Remotely provided dispute resolution services
for Ottawa families

We can help you resolve virtually all family law issues such as custody and parenting responsibilities, access and parenting time, child support and/or spousal support issues including determining incomes available for support purposes, special and extraordinary expenses for minor and adult children, division of property for both married spouses and common law spouses (as applicable).

In the normal course, most dispute resolution processes were conducted “in person”. But our world has drastically changed in a short period of time and what we used to do in person, we now have to do in a “virtual” format. The lawyers working with The Virtual Family Law Project are all experienced and set up to conduct all dispute resolution processes using virtual technology such as:

• • Zoom
  • Microsoft Teams
  • FaceTime
  • Teleconferencing Services
  • Email

In order to engage in one of our virtual dispute resolution processes, the parties and their lawyers must consent to the use of these technologies, including acknowledging that any information shared or obtained through this technology will remain confidential. Everyone also has to acknowledge that there is no guarantee that everything shared through such technology will remain confidential as all such technology comes with its own risks. Each lawyer providing such virtual services will require the parties and lawyers to sign consents addressing such points.

The Ottawa Virtual Family Law Project (OVFLP) is the portal through which you can address your family law issues. There are only two issues we can’t help you with and that is actually getting divorced (unmarried) and child protection matters where a Children’s Aid Society has taken steps to address a child protection concern. Those still require a judge. The OVFLP is designed as a “one-stop shop”, a virtual gateway through which you can access all the dispute resolution tools required to resolve your family law issues.

Alternate Dispute resolution (mediation, arbitration and collaborative law) results in enforceable outcomes. When you reach an agreement, we can draft a separation agreement which can be enforced by the Court; your lawyers can submit consent orders to be signed by a judge; or your arbitration awards can be converted into a Court order. In any event, you can rest assured that the deal you reach with the assistance of our professionals will be respected.

In order to join the project as a service provider, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Be a lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Have practiced Family Law for 10 or more years since your call to the Bar
• If providing Private Case or Settlement Conference services, you must be approved by the Regional Senior Justice for this purpose.
• If providing Mediation services you must have completed a 14-hour training program (all taught in one week or less) in screening parties for domestic violence and power imbalance in the last 5 years and also be:
  • Accredited by the Ontario Associated of Family Mediators (OAFM), or be certified by either Family Mediation Canada (FMC) or the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO); OR
  • Have completed 15 full mediation cases within the last 3 full calendar years.
• If providing Arbitration services you must have completed a 14-hour training program (all taught in one week or less) in screening parties for domestic violence and power imbalance in the last 5 years and also comply with the criteria required by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.
• If providing Collaborative Family Law services, you must have completed the required Collaborative Family Practice training as required by the OACP and Collaborative Practice Ottawa and be a practicing panel member of Collaborative Practice Ottawa.
• If providing Domestic Violence and Power Imbalance Screening services, you must have completed a 14-hour training program (all taught in one week or less) in screening parties for domestic violence and power imbalance in the last 5 years.
• If providing Parenting Coordination services, you must have completed a 14-hour program (all completed in one week or less) in screening for domestic violence and power imbalances in the last 5 years.