Conflict is often inevitable, but it need not produce negative results. Mediation is an option that enables you to work through conflict constructively. The Mediator assists you in reaching an overall settlement or work out as many of the issues that you and your spouse bring to the table.
FACT: FAMILIES DON'T WIN IN COURT. You will reach a better settlement outside of court in an emotionally supportive environment. For those of you who have children, the nature of your ongoing relationship may be changing, but it is important that you realize that it is not ending. It is a redefining of roles and relationships. You must remember that although you no longer will be husband and wife, you both are parents.
There is a basic process we use to reach a settlement. The process is:
- Discuss a parenting plan for the children;
- Identify assets/liabilities of the marriage;
- Explore each parties' disposition of each asset/liability;
- Review the necessary paperwork regarding assets/liabilities;
- Develop budgets;
- Begin to define short and long term goals of each party;.
- Define general areas of agreement;
- Define substantive areas of disagreement;
- Identify symbolic and emotional issues;
- Develop current and future income information;
- Reach a verbal agreement on the issues brought to mediation;
- Prepare a Memorandum of Understanding in regard to all issues.
During the process, the mediator will meet with both parties in order to get a general sense of agreement and disagreement regarding the various issues brought to the table. In the joint sessions, issues such as custody, support, alimony, division of martial property and marital debt shall be discussed.
Sessions normally last approximately two hours. However, we do not limit ourselves to that time period if the parties want to go on to finish up discussing an issue(s).
