What is arbitration and who is it for?
Arbitration, in the context of family law, is a voluntary alternate dispute resolution process where parties in conflict agree to hire a neutral third-party adjudicator (the arbitrator) to render a decision on their legal issue. In other words, you get to hire your own judge.
Usually, the parties will come to an agreement on who they want to arbitrate their case – often retaining someone who is experienced and qualified to arbitrate family law related matters.
Arbitrators practicing in the province of Alberta are bound by the Alberta Arbitration Act, and those practicing in BC are bound by the British Columbia Arbitration Act, which set out the rules that govern aspects of the process - including the arbitration hearings, the authority of the arbitrator, and the powers to appeal the award.
