Historical overview of mediation, collaborative law and other non-adversarial approaches -- Dispute resolution : alternative methods -- Practice issues and screening for appropriateness -- An interest-based approach and steps in the mediation model -- Managing the collaborative process -- Protecting the best interests of children -- Collaborative family law and mediation : an interdisciplinary model -- Legal issues : custody and access -- Legal issues : support and property -- Mediation and collaborative law : professional conduct -- Mediation in practice : memorandum of understanding -- Custody assessments -- The mediator/assessor as expert witness -- Appendix I. Mediation and Custody Assessments. Letter from mediator : willingness to act - mediation -- Letter from mediator/assessor : willingness to act - custody assessment -- Outline of mediation procedure -- Best practice tips -- Outline of custody assessment procedure -- Confidential client questionnaire -- Closed mediation retainer contract -- Open mediation retainer contract -- Partially open mediation retainer contract -- Assessment retainer contract -- Consent to release information -- Covering letter re: consent to release information -- Memo to file re: consents -- Sample : parenting plan -- Custody/access assessment guidelines / Ontario Interdisciplinary Association of Custody/Access Assessors -- Outline of custody assessment report -- Appendix II. Collaborative family law and collaborative mediation. Collaborative family law retainer -- Collaborative family law participation agreement -- Collaborative mediation retainer -- Collaborative family mediation participation agreement -- Steps in collaborative law case -- Outline for clients : steps in the collaborative mediation process -- Agenda for first collaborative family law counsel meeting -- Agenda for first five-way collaborative mediation meeting -- Hot tips for successful collaboration -- Protocols of the Association of Collaborative Family Lawyers (Calgary) -- IACP standards for collaborative training -- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals -- Appendix III. Screening for domestic violence. OAFM policy on abuse -- The Landau domestic violence screening interview -- Screening clients for abuse in divorce mediation cases -- Screening categories -- Characteristics of 'A', 'B' & 'C' couples -- Intake form (with DV screening questions) -- Modifying mediation or collaborative law -- Safe termination of mediation -- Appendix IV. Letter to collaborative lawyers from mediator -- Sample memorandum of understanding re: custody and access, support and property division -- Appendix V. The Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Upper Canada -- Code of ethics ; Code of professional conduct / Ontario Association for Family Mediation -- Model standards of practice for family and divorce mediation -- Code of professional conduct / Family Mediation Canada -- Practice guidelines, family mediator certification process and standards for mediation training programs / Family Mediation Canada (FMC) -- Certification criteria.