Dayana Romero
Qualified Mediator
- Registered Psychotherapist
- Qualified Mediator · ADRIO / ADRIC
- 17+ years across conflict resolution and mediation
- Sessions in English and Spanish
Hamilton · Ancaster · Virtual Across Ontario
Separation Agreements in Toronto & Ontario
Drafted, mediated, and signed in 6 to 10 weeks. Without the court fight.
Already separated, or about to be. Resolve property, parenting, and support privately with a Qualified Mediator. Toronto, GTA, Hamilton, Ancaster, virtual across Ontario.
"Conflict is exhausting. The process forward shouldn't be."
Qualified Mediator (ADRIO / ADRIC)
Two Ontario offices · Hamilton and Ancaster
Free 30-minute consultation
Free Consultation
Start your Separation Agreement.
Tell us where you are. We'll reply within 24 hours to schedule a free 30-minute scoping call.
Typical timeline
Court: 12 to 24+ monthsMediation: 6 to 10 weeks
Typical cost
Court: two firms billing hourlyMediation: flat fee, quoted after consult
Who decides
Court: the judgeMediation: you do
Serving Toronto, the GTA, and Ontario-wide by secure virtual session. In-person at Hamilton and Ancaster.
Our Team
A mediation team that brings both legal insight and an understanding of human dynamics to every case.
While most practices offer one or the other, we ensure each conversation is handled with care and every agreement is shaped with a clear understanding of its intended outcome.
Moira Wallace
Qualified Mediator
- Corporate Lawyer
- Qualified Mediator · ADRIO / ADRIC
- Notary Public · Commissioner of Oaths
- 29+ years drafting and reviewing agreements
Robin Dhaliwal
Qualified Mediator
- Registered Psychotherapist
- Qualified Mediator · ADRIO / ADRIC
- English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu
- Trained in high-conflict de-escalation
Sound Familiar?
You came here for a reason.
Most people who reach out are quietly carrying one or more of these.
Already separated and trying to formalize the arrangement before anything is signed.
Pensions, RRSPs, the matrimonial home, debts: you don't know what has to be listed.
Want the agreement to actually be enforceable, not a handshake on letterhead.
Trying to protect what you brought into the relationship, and what you've built since.
Need a parenting schedule in writing, including holidays, school weeks, and decision-making.
Just want a signed agreement so you can move on, with no ambiguity.
Worried your partner will not engage. We can reach out to them directly on your behalf so the first move is neutral.
If any of those landed, talk to a mediator before you sign anything.
The first call is free, private, and 30 minutes. No commitment. We will tell you honestly whether mediation fits your situation.
How It Works
A clear path from first call to signed agreement.
01
Free 30-minute consultation
Private and virtual. We listen, you ask questions, and we tell you honestly whether mediation is the right path for your situation. No obligation.
02
Confidential intake with each party
We meet separately with each partner so we understand the full picture before anyone sits at the same table. This is where most cases save weeks.
03
Joint mediation, written agreement
Typically two to three sessions. Each side has space to be heard. The final agreement is drafted and reviewed with one of our Qualified Mediators.
A Real Ontario Practice
You are not booking a faceless online service.
We are a working mediation practice with offices in Hamilton and Ancaster. Most consultations happen virtually for convenience, but you can sit down with us in person any time during the file. The reception above is where most files begin.
- Two physical Ontario offices, not a virtual address.
- Regulated by ADRIO and ADRIC. Real Ontario credentials.
- Every agreement reviewed by a Qualified Mediator before signing.
Mediation vs Litigation
Why many Ontario couples consider mediation first.
Ontario family courts face significant delays. Mediation is one of the faster, more private alternatives available. Here is how the two approaches typically compare.
| Court (typical) | Step Mediation (typical) | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 12 to 24+ months | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Cost | Hourly billing through two firms | One flat fee,* quoted clearly after your free consultation. |
| Privacy | Public record | Fully confidential |
| Who decides | The judge | You and your former partner |
| Kids | Adversarial process | Parenting plan co-designed by both parents |
Outcomes and timelines vary by case. Mediation is not legal advice. Independent Legal Advice (ILA) is recommended before signing any agreement. Mediation sessions are confidential except for statutory exceptions, including child safety and threats of harm.
More Ontario couples are settling separations through mediation first. Yours can too.
Get a free 30-minute consultation. Walk away with a clear, honest read on whether mediation fits your situation, with no obligation.
Honest Note
When mediation is not the right next step.
We do not take every file. Mediation is not appropriate when there is active abuse, untreated addiction, an active restraining order, or when either party is not safe in the same conversation. If any of that fits your situation, tell us on the first call. We will say so directly and point you to the right resource. Honesty on our end before money changes hands.
Common Questions
You probably want to know.
Is what we agree on legally binding?
The mediation produces a Separation Agreement drafted by one of our Qualified Mediators. Each party reviews it with their own Independent Legal Advice (ILA) before signing. Once signed with ILA, it is enforceable in Ontario as a binding domestic contract.
What if my spouse won't agree to mediate?
This is one of the most common questions and one we handle for you. One of our Qualified Mediators can reach out to your partner directly with a private, neutral invitation with their permission. Many partners agree once they hear from a neutral mediator rather than from the other spouse. We cannot predict how your partner will respond, but the neutral approach changes the dynamic for many people. The first call is also free for both of you.
How private is mediation?
Mediation in Ontario is confidential. Sessions, notes, and discussions are not part of the public record and cannot be used as evidence in court. The only statutory exceptions are situations involving child safety, elder abuse, or imminent threats of harm. We explain this in plain language at your first call.
Do I still need my own lawyer?
It is highly recommended that each party have their own Independent Legal Advice (ILA) from their own lawyer before signing. That is a separate step from mediation. Our Qualified Mediators draft and review the agreement internally for completeness and consistency, which reduces the back-and-forth at the ILA stage.
What does it cost?
The first 30-minute consultation is free. After that, mediation is quoted on a flat fee rate. Most Separation Agreement files run two to three sessions, though outcomes and timelines vary. Mediation fees are separate from Independent Legal Advice, which each party arranges through their own lawyer.
Can we sign while still living in the same house?
Yes. You can sign an Ontario Separation Agreement while still living under the same roof, as long as you both have Independent Legal Advice and you both understand the document. We see this often when one party can't move out yet for financial or parenting reasons.
What if we already worked most of it out ourselves?
Even better. We can take what you've agreed and pressure-test it for Ontario Family Law Act gaps (property equalization, spousal support waivers, pensions, future-asset language), then our Qualified Mediators draft it into an enforceable agreement, often in 3 to 5 weeks instead of 6 to 10.
Is the agreement valid if we never go to court or file for divorce?
Yes. A signed Ontario Separation Agreement is a binding domestic contract once each party has Independent Legal Advice. A divorce is a separate legal step that can follow on an uncontested basis later, often using the same Separation Agreement as the basis.
How long until we have a signed agreement?
Most Separation Agreement files complete in 6 to 10 weeks from intake to signed agreement, including Independent Legal Advice. High-asset or high-conflict files take longer. Contested court files often run 12 to 24 months or more, so mediation is generally much faster, though every file is different.
Book your free 30-minute consultation.
On the phone or virtual. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and tell you honestly whether mediation is the right next step. No obligation.