Services that facilitate the resolution of parenting arrangement issues

Family violence

If you or your children are experiencing abuse, you might need additional services to help with your situation.

Many provinces and territories offer family justice services that are specifically intended for families experiencing family violence.

On this page

Note that not all provinces and territories offer the same services.

Learn about services that facilitate the resolution of parenting issues

During the separation and divorce process, you and your former partner may agree to, or the court may make an order for, parenting arrangements that are in the best interests of your children. These arrangements must be followed.

Definition:
A parenting arrangement is a plan that you or a court make for the care of your children after you separate or divorce. Parenting arrangements include “parenting time” and “decision-making responsibility.”

If your parenting arrangements need to be changed and you and your former partner are unable to reach an agreement, you may need help to resolve your parenting arrangement dispute. Some family justice services can help you resolve issues out of court. If it is not possible to use a family justice service in your particular situation, for example if there is family violence, you can also seek help from the court to enforce parenting arrangements. (see section on “Services that assist with the court process”)

Types of services

Supervision services for parenting time (access) and transfers

Sometimes, safety concerns arise with respect to the exercise of parenting time (also known as “access”in some provinces and territories) or during the transfer or exchange of a child between parents. Supervised parenting time and transfer services allow for the transfer of the child and exercise of parenting time to take place under the supervision of a trained third party in a safe, neutral and child-focused manner.

Mediation

Publicly funded mediation or non-government-based services such as mediation, negotiation, arbitration and collaborative law are some of the alternatives to going to court.

Definition:
Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party helps parents come to an agreement about issues related to separation and divorce, such as their parenting arrangement. In “shuttle mediation,” the two parents do not need to be in the same room. The mediator speaks to one parent and then to the other parent separately. The two parents negotiate with the help of the mediator, without being face to face.

Definition:
Negotiation is a process in which parties have discussions to try to come up with a compromise or agreement about parenting issues. Parents may negotiate by themselves or they may negotiate with the help of their legal advisers.

Definition:
Arbitration is a process in which a neutral person—an arbitrator—makes decisions on legal issues. Under this process, both parents agree that they will allow the arbitrator to make decisions. The arbitrator acts like a judge.

Definition:
Collaborative law is a process in which both parents, their legal advisers, and potentially other professionals agree to work cooperatively to come to an agreement. During the collaborative process, both parents agree not to bring any court applications.

Mediation is a dispute resolution process where a mediator (a neutral person) can help you and your former partner resolve your family law issues. The mediator does not take sides. The mediator may make suggestions to help you and your former partner communicate better and reach an agreement about your issues. However, the mediator does not make decisions for you and cannot give you legal advice.

Publicly funded mediation is available in most provinces and territories. These services vary in the number of hours of services provided, the scope of issues addressed and the fees payable, if any.

Some provinces and territories also offer international mediation services. This means that a mediator will help to resolve a dispute where one party lives in Canada and the other party lives outside Canada.

Family law can be complex. You may want to get advice regarding your situation from a family law legal adviser.

For more information on provincial and territorial services that provide legal advice, please see the “Services that assist with the court process” section.

Definition:
A Legal adviser is a person who is qualified in a province to give legal advice to another person or represent them in court. This can be a lawyer, and in some provinces, may include other professionals.

Related Justice Canada resources

Find the publicly funded family justice services available in your province or territory

Alberta

Family Mediation

Calgary

Suite 706-S, Calgary Courts Centre
601 5 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 5P7
Telephone: 403-297-6981

Edmonton

Suite 8077, John E. Brownlee Building
10365 97 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 3W7
Telephone: 780-427-8329

Elsewhere in Alberta

Telephone: 403-355-2414

For more information visit: https://www.alberta.ca/family-mediation.aspx

British Columbia

Children in Mediation Services

For locations and telephone numbers:

Website: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1019

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Family Law Information Centres (FLIC)

Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) - Moncton Law Courts

Located at the Moncton Law Courts
145 Assomption Blvd, First Floor
Moncton, NB E1C 0R2
Telephone: 856-2307 Option 2
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) – Saint John Law Courts

Located at the Saint John Law Courts
10 Peel Plaza, Level 2 Floor
Saint John, NB E2L 3G6
Telephone: 658-6361
Hours of operation: Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Court-Ordered Evaluations Support Program

Bathurst

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
254 St. Patrick St.
P.O. Box 5001
Bathurst, NB E2A 3Z9
Telephone: 506-547-2152
Fax: 506-547-2966

Campbellton

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
157 Water St.
P.O. Box 5001
Campbellton, NB E3N3H5
Telephone: 506-789-2364
Fax: 506-789-2186

Edmundston

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
121 rue de l’église
P.O. Box 5001
Edmundston, NB E3V 3L3
Telephone: 506-735-2028
Fax: 506-737-4419

Fredericton

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
427 King St.
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: 506-453-2015
Fax: 506-444-5675

Miramichi

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
673 King George Hwy
Miramichi, NB E1V 1N6
Telephone: 506-627-4023
Fax: 506-627-4069

Moncton

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
145 Assomption Blvd.
P.O.Box 5001
Moncton, NB
E1C 0R2
Telephone: 506-856-2304
Fax: 506-856-2951

Saint John

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
10 Peel St.
P.O. Box 5001
Saint John, NB E2L 3G6
Telephone: 506-658-2400
Fax: 506-658-3762

Woodstock

Court of King’s Bench of N.B. Family Division
689 Main St.
P.O. Box 5001
Woodstock, NB E7M 5C6
Telephone: 506-325-4414
Fax: 506-325-4484

Justice Modernization Branch

Department of Justice and Public Safety
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 453-3827
Email: COESP@gnb.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mediation-Family Justice Services

Website: https://www.gov.nl.ca/jps/department/contact/.

Northwest Territories

Family Law Mediation Program

Specialized Courts and Alternative Resolution Program Advisor

Court Services
Telephone: 867-767-9285 ext. 82338
Toll Free: 1-866-217-8923
Email: flmp@gov.nt.ca

Nova Scotia

Supervised Parenting and Exchange Program

Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/programs-services/supervised-parenting-and-exchange-program

Assessments

Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/children/assessments

Family Law Nova Scotia

Halifax

Telephone: 902-424-5232
Email: questions@nsfamilylaw.ca
Twitter: @nsfamilylaw
Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/

Sydney

Telephone: 902-563-5761
Email: questions@nsfamilylaw.ca
Twitter: @nsfamilylaw
Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/

Nunavut

Family Mediation Program and Parenting Education Program

Box 1000, Stn. 510
Building #1106
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Telephone: 867-975-6364
Fax: 867-975-6160
Website: https://www.gov.nu.ca/justice/programs-services/mediation-program

Ontario

Supervised Access

Supervised Access Program

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
438 University Avenue
7th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2S9 2K8
Telephone: 416-325-5666
Toll-free: 1-888-789-4199

Family Mediation Services

Program Management Branch
Ministry of the Attorney General
720 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2S9
Telephone: 416-327-1348
Fax: 416-326-3070

Prince Edward Island

Child-Focused Parenting Plan Mediation

Family Court Counsellors’ Office
Honourable C.R. McQuaid Family Law Centre
1 Harbourside Access Road, P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Telephone: 902-368-6928
Fax: 902-368-6934
Email: fcco@gov.pe.ca

Supervised Parenting Time and Exchange Program

Family Court Counsellors’ Office
Honourable C.R. McQuaid Family Law Centre
1 Harbourside Access Road
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Telephone: 902-368-6928
Fax: 902-368-6934
Email: fcco@gov.pe.ca

Quebec

For information on family justice services in Quebec

Website: https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/separation-divorce/family-mediation

Saskatchewan

Supervised parenting time with Children

Family Justice Services Branch

Saskatoon

Telephone:  306-933-5930

Regina

Telephone: 306-787-9416

Yukon

Settlement Conferences/Court-based Mediation

Trial Coordinator
Department of Justice, Government of Yukon
1st Floor, Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre
2134 Second Ave.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5H6
Telephone: 867-667-3442
Toll-free in Yukon: 1-800-661-0408, ext. 3442

Yukon Family Mediation Service

Family Mediator
Department of Justice, Government of Yukon
301 Jarvis Street, 1st Floor
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2H3
Telephone: 867-667-5753
Email: flic@yukon.ca