Family law dispute resolution requirement extended to all of Sask.

After successful pilot programs in Prince Albert and Regina, the Government of Saskatchewan is extending mandatory early family dispute resolution across the province.

The dispute resolution program includes collaborative law services, family law arbitration, family mediation, and parent co-ordination, the government said in a media release.

The aim is to allow families to address and solve disputes before the courts get involved, which speeds up the legal process and saves time and costs. The change is to take effect July 1.

“Mandatory dispute resolution empowers families to address issues before they go to court,” Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in a statement. “This program … has been effective in reducing the financial and emotional impacts of separation and divorce on families and children.”

The dispute resolution program has been in the works in Saskatchewan since 2017, when the government first began consultations. The pilot in Prince Albert was launched in 2020, with the pilot in Regina starting in 2021.

More details and a list of recognized dispute resolution service providers can be found on the government’s website.