Divorce Mediation
Divorce mediation is a way for clients to settle a case with a neutral third party, the mediator. The case can be already filed in court or not yet filed.
Our Family Divorce Mediation package includes 3.5 hours for $1050.
Why work with a divorce mediator?
There are many reasons one might need to or want to work with a divorce mediator. There might be custody, child support, parenting time or visitation disagreements. Other examples include clients who have property such as bank accounts, retirement savings, or a marital home together.
Some divorce decrees require clients to have attempted mediation before filing any changes or modifications to the parenting or custody agreement. Working with a divorce mediator will allow you and your former partner to work through all types of life issues and resolve the conflict at hand.
What happens in divorce mediation?
In mediation, the parties are in a non-threatening environment such as a neutral conference room with the mediator present. Sometimes clients will have hired attorneys to be present. If the client wants to attend without their counsel, there are numerous opportunities to reach out by phone for advice during the session or on a break.
Mediators work with the clients directly to discuss alternatives to help settle each problem presented at the mediation. As each issue is discussed and addressed, each client has an opportunity to express his or her preference and be a part of the solution to the problem presented. When the clients come to an agreement on an issue it is added to the Mediation Agreement to be signed by all present at the end of the session. If there is not full agreement on all issues some clients will hold an issue to be discussed at a later time in another mediation session.
Mediation is a great tool to help clients save time and money and the best solution to work toward a full agreement on all issues presented.
The general format of mediation is to start in the same conference room to collect a list of issues provided by both parties. Then the parties are usually separated to let the mediator have some time to gather more information from each. Not every case is the same format as some clients are good to stay together during the entire session.
How can divorce mediation help?
One reason to work together to resolve an issue is that when children are involved, parties will be required to work on ever changing problems as the child matures. Other potential personalities are brought into the picture as time goes on such as step parents and grandparents causing differences in opinions and additional conflict.
The ideal goal of mediation is to work with clients toward a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict, resulting in more peace for all parties involved, including the kids.
Mediation can save time away from jobs and family. If clients go to court instead of trying to resolve the issues at mediation, the case could potentially be continued by the judge or attorneys. Many clients who come to mediation have been in the court system for up to two years or more costing several thousand dollars in fees and countless hours of lost time.
