Ex-couples can get free hours of family mediation to settle disagreements when they separate. The Quebec government can pay for several hours of the mediator’s time. Make sure your mediator participates in the government program and estimate the number of free hours you’ll get.
|
This article in short:
|
The free hours aren’t limited to mediation sessions. They also cover work that mediators do outside sessions. For example, mediators get paid to add notes to your file, respond to your emails and write summaries of the solutions you and your ex work out during your sessions.
You must choose a mediator who participates in the government program
To get free hours of mediation, you and your ex must jointly choose a family mediator who participates in the government mediation program. The government will only pay mediators who participate in the program.
You can use the online search tool of the Association des médiateurs familiaux du Québec (Quebec family mediators association) to find mediators who participate in the government program (French only). Use the advanced search function (“recherche avancée”) and select yes (“oui”) under the question, “Do you accept public funding?” (“Acceptez-vous les subventions?”).
|
Important! Your family mediator must be certified. Certified mediators complete training allowing them to help couples settle disagreements after a separation. You can confirm that your family mediator is certified by using the online search tool of the Quebec government, or the online search tool of the Association des médiateurs familiaux du Québec (Quebec family mediators association) (French Only). |
How many free hours are you entitled to?
The number of free hours of family mediation you get depends on whether you and your ex have financially dependent children together. These are called “common dependent children.” Your mediator can help confirm if you have them.
Yes, in some situations. Generally, common dependent children are under 18. But a person who is 18 or over can be considered a dependent child in some cases. For example, a 21-year-old who is studying full-time can be considered a dependent child.
You and your ex have common dependent children
You and your ex are entitled to a base number of hours and extra hours, if needed.
Here are the base numbers of free hours you and your ex can get if you have common dependent children.
Situation
Free hours of mediation
You still don’t have a separation agreement or judgement.
5 hours
You want to modify a separation agreement or judgment
2.5 hours
When you or your ex’s situation changes, you can get 2.5 extra free hours of mediation to settle a new issue related to your separation. Important! Generally, you can’t get extra hours right after using your base number of free hours. The extra hours can’t be used to extend the base number of hours. They just allow you go back to mediation if you or your ex’s situation changes.
- You or your ex’s income changes.
- You and your ex don’t agree on an important decision about your children, like healthcare, choice of school, or long-term extra-curricular activities or hobbies.
- Your children become financially independent.
For example, you can get 2.5 extra hours to update your child support agreement if you or your ex’s income changes. If your income changes again two years later, you can get another 2.5 free hours of mediation to update your child support agreement. You can get another 2.5 free hours when your children become financially independent, and you want to stop paying child support.
You and your ex don’t have common dependent children
Do you have financially independent children, or no children with your ex? You can still get up to three free hours of family mediation if you don’t already have a separation agreement or judgment.
But you aren’t entitled to free hours of mediation to change a separation agreement or judgment. And you can’t get extra hours to settle a new issue related to your separation.
What happens when you run out of free hours?
Once you run out of free hours of mediation, you can continue mediation with the same mediator. But you and your ex will have to split the fees for the additional hours. Important! Your mediator is not allowed to charge you more than the rate set by the government ($130 an hour).