Many individuals and families have trouble talking about inheritance issues, succession planning or elder care. And who can blame them? Unless there is a "culture of conversation" among members, talking seems to involve too many risks.
That is why my colleagues and I (through The Estate Mediaiton Group www.estatemediationgroup.ca) are evolving The Family Conference, a facilitated meeting intended to make uncomfortable conversations more accessible.
On November 3, 2011, we explained to the ADR section of the Ontario Bar Association how a Family Conference can be convened. We walked though our intake form "Thinking It Through", available below.
Convening a meeting and issuing invitations are important first steps but initiators and participants also need to prepare beforehand. What do they want to say and how do they want to say it? Conflict Resolution Tutoring may be beneficial.
Conflict Resolution Tutoring is one-on-one help from an objective outsider who does not advocate or take sides, and who provides fresh insights and practical support to improve an individual's thinking, choices, words and actions in preparation for a contentious meeting or event.
I will be demonstrating Conflict Resolution Tutoring on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at the Estate Planning Council meeting in Toronto.
Genevieve Chornenki
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