Since September 2013 a new entry point process of Early Neutral Consultation (ENC), has been available for families to start the process of dispute resolution on the right pathway, in the best interests of families and children, and to stay out-of-court. The process of Early Neutral Consultation started first in Barrie, Ontario and has been spreading around Ontario.
WHAT IS EARLY NEUTRAL CONSULTATION (ENC)?
Early Neutral Consultation (ENC) is a process offered by Family Consultants, who may be trained as lawyers and neutral professionals (such as parenting or financial coaches), to help families understand the ranges of legal processes, ranges of legal information and contacts to professionals (such as mediators, lawyers, etc) needed to help resolve the family dispute, in the best interests of families and children.
Early Neutral Consultation (ENC) is a single session of information, unique to each family’s circumstances. Early Neutral Consultation provides a safe environment where information only is provided, and no decisions are made during the consultation. Early Neutral Consultation empowers couples with Information First. In many cases couples choose to hear this information together from a single Family Consultant, although families can also hear this information from two separate Family Consultants. Surprisingly, until Early Neutral Consultation was invented, there were very few places families could go to get information unique to their circumstances.
WHAT IS “FAMILY LAW PATHWAYS” – CENTRE AND NETWORK OF PROFESSIONALS HELPING FAMILIES
The first centre in Canada to provide Early Neutral Consultation (ENC) for families is the Family Law Pathways Centre (www.FamilyLawPathways.com) which is an Entry Point Centre for families dealing with disputes, such as divorce & separation agreements, or cohabitation & prenuptial agreements, or wills & estates, to name a few. Family Law Pathway has grown to become a Network of Family Consultants across Ontario who offer the Early Neutral Consultation process.
Increasingly private professionals (lawyers, neutral professionals) are also taking training in Early Neutral Consultation (ENC), and now offer the advantages of Early Neutral Consultation to families and other professionals across Ontario (the first training course for professionals in Early Neutral Consultation is accredited by the Law Society of Upper Canada for professional development for lawyers and is offered by Family Law Pathways Centre – see http://www.familylawpathways.com/public-seminars-and-talks/),.
FDR (Family Dispute Resolution) PROFESSIONALS AND FAMILIES WORKING TOGETHER
After an Early Neutral Consultation (ENC) families are empowered with Information First to choose the pathways and processes that are right for them, saving stress, emotion and time. This is especially important where families wish to empower themselves to work together (and work together with their chosen professionals, including mediators, lawyers, etc), to stay out-of-court, and to save emotional and financial resources, in the best interest of their family and children.
For instance, after a single session Early Neutral Consultation (ENC), families are empowered to understand and move forward with their chosen process and professionals (such mediation). The process of Early Neutral Consultation also empowers families to become knowledgeable about working with all other FDR professionals such a financial and realty professionals (for instance where there are important considerations of time and resources), parenting coaches and parenting coordinators, counsellors, as well as the importance of financial disclosure and independent legal advice from the family`s chosen professionals.
GOOD NEWS FOR FAMILIES AND MEDIATION PROFESSIONALS!
The process of Early Neutral Consultation (ENC) brings families, and professionals who work with families, together to help families choose the right processes and professionals to help them resolve their family disputes and stay out-of-court.
Families and Professionals interested in knowing more or scheduling an Early Neutral Consultation (ENC) may find helpful the LINKED brochure titled Family Law Pathways Centre – Intake Summary for Families (for couples and professionals) – April 2015
This blog is prepared for Family Law Pathways Centre (Canada), www.FamilyLawPathways.com and Riverdale Mediation by Dr Brett who is the founder of Early Neutral Consultation (ENC), and founder and board member of FDRIO (www.fdrio.ca), and founder of the Family Law Pathways Centre.