For Professionals

Mediation Resolves Conflict - Mediation is surprisingly effective in many cases, even when there is a difference in styles of communication and expression between the parties involved. A trained mediator can facilitate a discussion and make sure the needs and thoughts of each party are expressed and heard.

The Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation (MCFM) is a non-profit organization that helps professionals by setting standards to guide the professional practice of family mediation in Massachusetts, and offers a certification program for qualified members. Click for more information on one of the following topics below:

UPCOMING EVENTS for Mediators

JOIN MCFM

GET the FMQ (Family Mediation Quarterly)

ATTEND the Annual Institute

GET Certified as a Mediator

VIEW our List of Members

Upcoming Events

MBA Conflict Resolution Day Event: Arbitration Webinar (Online)
October 17, 2024
Third Party Event

Mediator Blog Posts

In Memory of Judge Edward Ginsburg

Moving Beyond Screening

New Child Support Guidelines

Member Directory

Fran Whyman

220 North Main Street, Suite 301

Natick, MA 01760

508-655-0700

David Wilkinson

144 Gould Street, No. 202

Needham, MA 02494

508-316-9720

Leila Wons

290 W Main Street, Suite 7

Northborough, MA 01532

508-936-5058

Kimberly Woo

383 Elliot Street, Suite 10

Newton Upper Falls 02464

(781)208-0557

Ken Wright

Smith Duggan Buell & Rufo, 55 Old Bedford Rd Suite 300

Lincoln, MA 01773

(617) 228-4448

MCFM Family Mediation Journal, FMQ & MCFM News

The MCFM Family Mediation Journal is the newest publication of MCFM following in a tradition of sharing information about the practice of family mediation in Massachusetts formerly presented in the Family Mediation Quarterly (“FMQ”) and before that, MCFM News.

The MCFM Family Mediation Journal is a periodic publication of MCFM. In it, family mediators share common interests and information. The Journal provides a forum to share knowledge and educate its members and the general public. We have also launched a companion blog on this site: The Family Mediation Blog.

The Journal will be mailed to all MCFM members, all Probate & Family Court Judges, all local Dispute Resolution Coordinators, all Family Service Officers, and all law school libraries in Massachusetts. Erin Pennock and Carol Lynn May, with the assistance of Jen Hawthorne and Justin Kelsey, MCFM members and board members, will accept and review submissions and edit the Journal. They follow in the footsteps of Les Wallerstein and Kate Fanger, the previous editors.

To search a topic use this search page. Issues of the Journal, the FMQ and MCFM News since its first publication are archived on this website. You can search for words appearing in the titles of the articles, as well as within the articles themselves.

SUBMISSION POLICIES: MCFM members and others may submit articles to the Journal and Blog. They should be in electronic format (Word) and sent to the Carol Lynn May. MCFM members may submit notices of mediation-related events for free publication as well. Complimentary publication of notices from mediation-related organizations is available on a reciprocal basis. Commercial advertising is also available.

MCFM Certified Mediators

MCFM was the first organization to certify family mediators in Massachusetts. Certification is reserved for members of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation with significant mediation experience, advanced training, and education. Extensive mediation experience may be substituted for an advanced academic degree.

The purpose of our mediation certification program is to promote high standards for the practice of divorce mediation as well as to provide education as needed to mediators as part of our certification process. We pledge to work with mediators applying for certification to help them succeed in obtaining this credential whenever possible.

Mediators interested in becoming MCFM-certified please see the Become a Certified Mediator page.

Click here to find an MCFM Certified Mediator.

Confidentiality & Ethics

MCFM is a resource for Mediators in Massachusetts and aims to provide information about ethical standards for mediators, ethics decisions related to mediation, and the Massachusetts confidentiality statute for mediators. In addition, to attending MCFM member's meetings, you may want to review the following resources:

Confidentiality Statute

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 233, Section 23C provides for confidentiality of a mediator’s work product, including memoranda and case files. In addition, oral communications made in the course of mediation in the presences of a mediator by any participant, mediator, or other are considered a confidential communication. Neither the written nor oral communications are subject to disclosure in a judicial or administrative proceeding.

In order to qualify, the mediator has to meet certain requirements, the mediator must have completed at least thirty hours of training in mediation and must have (a) four years of professional experience as a mediator; (b) is accountable to a dispute resolution organization which has been in existence for at least three year; or (c) the mediator has been appointed to mediate by a judicial or governmental body. In addition, the mediator must have entered into a written agreement with the parties to assist them in resolving their disputes.

Read MCFM's response to inquiries regarding whether membership in MCFM satisfies one of the requirements
of the Massachusetts confidentiality statute (MGL, Chapter 233, Section 23C)

Also see Leary v. Geoghan MA App. Ct. 2002-J-0435.

Ethics Opinions

See BBA Ethics Opinion 78-1 - "it is our opinion that an attorney may act as mediator in connection with the
divorce and preparation of a separation agreement between husband and wife and in that connection may prepare either a separation agreement or the draft of a separation agreement..."

See Mass Bar Ethics Opinion No. 85-3 - Summary: "An attorney may, in certain circumstances outlined, act as a single mediator or as a co-mediator with a lay family counselor in divorce mediation, provided that the attorney takes certain precautionary steps, including explaining to the parties that the attorney is not representing either party, explaining the risks of proceeding without independent legal counsel and obtaining the informed consent of each party.

An attorney may also represent both parties in drafting a separation agreement, the terms of which are arrived at through mediation, but must advise the parties of the advantages of having independent legal counsel review any such agreement, and must obtain the informed consent of the parties to such joint representation.

The attorney may associate with a non-lawyer mediator provided that the services provided by each of them are properly identified and attributed, clients are separately billed for services, and clients are not mislead as to the identity, responsibility and status of the participants."

We'd love to meet you!

9 Main Street Southborough, MA 01772 masscouncil@MCFM.org