“Arbitration”

A process in which a neutral person—an arbitrator—makes decisions on legal issues. Under this process, both parents agree that they will allow the arbitrator to make decisions. The arbitrator acts like a judge.

A private consensual quasi-judicial process for the resolution of disputes. Similar to litigation in that it is an adversarial process that requires a neutral third party to render a decision. Although arbitration is a formal process covered by federal and provincial laws, the parties can design many of its structural elements, including the rules of procedure, time limits, and the number of arbitrators.