For the next 3 blogs, I am going to focus on three types of conflict in family law, which can include: Parenting Conflict, Relationship Conflict, and Value Conflict.
Today, we will start with Parenting Conflict:
Parenting conflict can often involve disputes about how to divide up parenting responsibilities, differences of opinion on best practices for parenting, managing expectations of parents, and bringing judgments and interpretation of facts to parenting.
Parents who are experiencing conflict can often benefit through intervention through a Parenting Coordinator or Family Mediator. These professionals can focus on identifying the deeper interests underlying the parent's positions. Often, this is done through active listening, which involves asking questions, clarifying what you hear to confirm understanding, and deepening to ask deeper questions aimed at probing for a deeper understanding.
When faced with this conflict, try to engage the parents in collaborative problem-solving in which they are able to brainstorm possible solutions. When parents develop solutions together, rather than having an outcome imposed on them, they are more likely to abide by a Parenting Plan or previous agreement and are able to get along better in the future.
If you are dealing with a family law, separation, or parenting matter, we invite you to contact an experienced lawyer at our firm for more information about how we may be of assistance.
Aubrey Sherman is the managing partner at Sherman Law LLP in Kitchener, Ontario. His practice focuses on family law, estate planning, and estate administration. The team at Sherman Law LLP in Waterloo Region has over 40 years of experience providing clients with creative and innovative solutions. If you wish to discuss your family law or estate planning matter in further detail, please contact our office to arrange for a consultation. We can be reached by phone at 519-884-0034 or by email.
