Send us a text When is the best time to introduce new partners to your kids and your ex? Hmmmmm. Not sure there's a clear answer to this one but most experts say don't have a new partner at all until you've sorted out the emotions of your separation. For children it's even more important that you tread very carefully as we hear from Lawyer Tracy Miller and Mediator Jamie West.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Mar 06, 2025•16 min
Send us a text It can be difficult for professionals to manage client expectations especially when the client is would up emotionally and just wants it over. In this episode Jamie West and Tracy Miller discuss how important managing expectations is from the very first meeting between clients and professionals at the beginning of separation. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Mar 06, 2025•16 min
Send us a text These professionals can help with co-parenting and communication after separation acting like a referee on parenting issues while you and your ex get used to a new normal of perhaps different parenting styles and communication styles...more in this episode with Jamie West and Tracy Miller.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Mar 06, 2025•19 min
Send us a text It sounds counter-intuitive, but when it comes to getting advice in the early stages of separation, it's best to take advice from family and friends with a skeptical ear. You see, they are all on your side, and they want to make you feel better. That means sometimes they hold back what they really think...and that's not good, as we hear from Family Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer Tracy Miller.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Mar 06, 2025•16 min
Send us a text When it comes to battles between separating spouses, nothing seems to get people more fired up than a battle over what used to be called Custody or as it's now called Parental Decision Making... Why? We find out from Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator Jamie West.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Mar 05, 2025•14 min
Send us a text January is Divorce month....people wait until right after the holidays to separate and then Tracy and Jamie's phone's ring off the hook.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca
Mar 05, 2025•15 min
Send us a text Think you'll show your ex that you're right and he's wrong? Don't hold your breath as we hear from Tracy Miller and Jamie West.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca
Mar 05, 2025•33 min
Send us a text Turns out they can be very useful to dial down the temperature and get people focussed on the best interests of their children and get their thinking forward focussed as we hear from Jamie West and Tracy Miller.... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Mar 05, 2025•27 min•Ep. 30
Send us a text In this episode of Divorce Solutions, Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer Tracy Miller suggest that it's buyer beware when choosing a lawyer, mediator, therapist or financial expert. Being hasty can be costly. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca
Nov 13, 2024•19 min
Send us a text This episode is an absolute must-listen. Retired Judge, The Honourable John Harper, joins Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator and former high conflict litigant Jamie West in a full discussion about his career as a Family Court Justice in Hamilton and Brantford to his new business as a Mediator, Arbitrator and Advocacy consultant and trainer for lawyers and law firms. This man has seen and heard it all, and you will learn a great deal about how you and your ex partner could b...
Oct 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 63
Send us a text When a couple decides to uncouple, often their cultural and religious differences become flashpoints when trying to create a parenting plan and schedule. Family traditions usually need adjusting and flexibility is very frequently required. It can be a bit tricky, but it doesn't have to be negative, as we hear from Family Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Oct 02, 2024•18 min•Ep. 62
Send us a text There are many reasons to choose a mediation process over litigation. Perhaps the greatest reason is one that is often overlooked. Faster closure and stress reduction are the top reasons ahead of the benefits of lower costs and having direct input into the decisions about your children and property that no judge can give you. More now with Laywer/Mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator Jamie West... Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Sep 26, 2024•26 min•Ep. 61
Send us a text Separation costs money. That's a fact. How much money depends on how you approach the issues that need addressing such as parenting schedules, division and equalization of assets, child and spousal support and who will get Great Aunt Edna's antique vase. Seriously, there are a lot of financial reasons to avoid litigation if possible. Lawyers, by the way are not all hungry to go to court. The vast majority would rather not, and many are mediators themselves. What's the cost differe...
Sep 19, 2024•23 min
Send us a text Social media is a figurative minefield where what you post could blow up and harm you. As we hear from Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator/Coach Jamie West, it makes no sense for you to do anything other than mothball your social media activities until well after your family law matter is done and dusted. Who knows, the break from social media could be good for your head too. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Sep 16, 2024•19 min
Send us a text Family Law experts, social workers and researchers can't seem to agree on whether or not the label Parental Alienation is appropriate in high-conflict divorces and battles between warring parents over parental decision-making and parenting time. It's a lightning rod term for sure and where you fall on the debate is largely determined by your own experiences. As we hear in this episode, Family Mediator Jamie West has now openly shared that he was in fact a targeted parent of not on...
May 26, 2024•27 min•Ep. 57
Send us a text A must hear episode here as Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator and divorce counsellor Jamie West discuss the myths surrounding the family law system and how to manage your expectations. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca
May 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 56
Send us a text The issue of where the family pet will live once a couple separates is becoming a bigger issue in society these days. In fact, the family law statutes have been update in British Columbia to reflect the importance that parties place on Fido. In this episode Family Lawyer and Mediator Tracy Miller and Family Mediator and Coach Jamie West try to put a leash on the issue with no muzzles. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Apr 26, 2024•17 min•Ep. 55
Send us a text Separation and Divorce cost money. The amount depends on which process you choose to get it done. Alternative dispute resolution processes such as Family Mediation, Arbitration or Collaborative Law all cost far less than litigation. So what's the best route to follow after it's all said and done and the financial issues have settled? In this episode Family Mediator Jamie West chats with Melissa MacLean who's a professional financial planner with IG Wealth Management in London Onta...
Apr 11, 2024•16 min•Ep. 54
Send us a text Dividing up the "business" of marriage can seem overwhelming and frightening. Things like the matrimonial home are subject to different rules for division at separation than say an RRSP, pension or antique car or cottage. The good news is that with some careful consideration and planning a lot of headaches can be avoided. It's really all about being or getting, organized as we hear from lawyer and mediator Angelina Macri in conversation with your hosts, Lawyer/mediator Tracy Mille...
Apr 03, 2024•24 min•Ep. 53
Send us a text The words Narcissist and Gaslighting are two of the most overused and common words in society today. The truth is we do live in a much more self-centred society these days, but not everyone we believe is a Narcissist is truly one by the clinical standards of the DSM. However, if it walks like, talks like and acts like a narcissist, there's a very good chance, regardless of formal diagnoses, that the person IS, in fact, a narcissist. About 20 percent of divorce cases involve at lea...
Mar 01, 2024•25 min
Send us a text Tracy and Jamie speak with lawyer turned Divorce coach and Mediator Dominique Laundry… Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca
Feb 20, 2024•22 min•Ep. 51
Send us a text Nothing strikes fear in people settling financial issues after separation, like what happens with the marital home and where my next home will be? In this episode, Tracy Miller and Jamie West welcome veteran Mortgage Broker Julie Brenneman as their guest to help sort out some of the questions you might have. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Feb 12, 2024•26 min
Send us a text On this episode, Tracy Miller and Jamie West welcome special guest David Lapointe from Century 21 Real Estate to discuss the ins and outs of selling the marital home after separation. It might seem straightforward, but like many things, it might not be, depending on the circumstances. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Feb 05, 2024•20 min•Ep. 49
Send us a text Richard Fast is an expert on thinking. He's the creator of the wildly popular game Mindtrap, which has sold millions worldwide. The number of decisions you must make during separation and divorce can be overwhelming. That's why it's crucial to understand how your mind works to make better decisions than simply acting out of impulse or a "feeling" that the decision is sound. As Jamie West and Tracy Miller discover in this episode, much more goes into decision-making than we know. S...
Jan 31, 2024•23 min
Send us a text The mysterious Family Mediation session will be much less mysterious after you listen to this episode wherein Tracy Miller and Jamie West paint a picture of a much more productive and cost-effective way to approach your separation. Jamie even delves into some personal information that should serve as a wake-up call to anyone with a scorched-earth mentality around divorce. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Jan 29, 2024•32 min
Send us a text Waiting til the holidays are over for the sake of the kids is a common philosophy for separating couples. But once the January bills arrive and the decorations are put away, you are faced with what to do as the first step in separating from your partner. In this episode, Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator Jamie West discuss what your first steps should be. You will likely be surprised at the answers. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's...
Jan 15, 2024•19 min•Ep. 45
Send us a text Jamie West and Tracy Miller discuss how to make better use of court time if you find yourself in litigation over your family law matter. Here's a suggestion...try not to use Court at all and you'll save a lot of time, money and stress. But...if you are going that route then have a listen. Support the show jwest@westpromediation.com .....tracy@miller-law.ca Hutch's.ca...
Jan 09, 2024•21 min•Ep. 43
Send us a text How are you doing? Really? Ok. If you've listened to the various episodes of Divorce Solutions, you know how strongly we feel about self-care. There's a reason emergency airline protocols require you to place the oxygen mask over your face first before helping others. The same applies to separation. You cannot think properly or help your children through this challenging time unless you retain as much of your well-being as possible. Separation and Divorce are on par with the exper...
Aug 21, 2023•17 min
Send us a text Aside from decision-making and parenting time, nothing creates more conflict in separating couples than setting up a holiday parenting schedule. That's why it's essential to nail things down in writing so everything is clear regarding expectations from both sides. As we hear from Family Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer and Family Mediator Tracy Miller, you must accept that things will not be the same as before decoupling. Still, as long as you stay child focussed and keep your emoti...
Aug 14, 2023•15 min
Send us a text When you're decoupling, as seems to be the buzzword these days, all you want is to get it all done and dusted as fast as possible. Well, how possible is fast? Not very, is the answer. Regardless of the dispute resolution path you choose (and we strongly encourage Mediation or Collaborative dispute resolution), it will not be all over within a few days or few weeks. At best it will take a few months. Choose litigation, and you're looking at years! Courts are backlogged, and many pr...
Aug 07, 2023•14 min
