| Divorce Mediation |
 WHAT IS IT? Mediation is a dispute resolution process in which an impartial third party, the mediator, facilitates negotiations among disputants to help them reach a mutually acceptable settlement. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? In most instances, mediation can save the parties both time and money. Most important, mediation is confidential and, therefore, an excellent forum for resolving sensitive matrimonial disputes. Additionally, often settlements can be reached without having to first initiate divorce proceedings with the court. HOW DO I GET STARTED? By making a phone call to our office, we can provide you information regarding how the process works and what the expected costs are. The most important precondition is a willingness by both parties to explore whether mediation will work for them. Usually, after the initial telephone consultation, a joint session can be arranged where the process can be explained to you and your spouse. DO YOU STILL NEED AN ATTORNEY? In most cases the answer to this question will be yes. However, ideally, that attorney will be serving in an advisory role, providing, you with the legal advice you need to effectively negotiate to a settlement with your spouse rather than preparing you for costly, public litigation. If you already have an attorney, you may advise that attorney that you are interested in pursuing mediation as an alternative. If asked to contact our offices, we can provide your attorney with information concerning how the process works and what their role will be if mediation is pursued. WHY DO WE RECOMMEND MEDIATION? Stories abound about how the divorce litigation process is costly, time-consuming, and, in cases involving children, often damaging to their best interests. Many of us have friends and family who we know to have been subjected to unneeded stress, uncertainty and expense by divorce litigation. Through its philosophy of self-determination, mediation seeks to put the divorcing spouses in control of the divorce process and in crafting the result. Settlements can be accomplished with less acrimony than in litigated divorce cases. |
