Separation and divorce can be painful and disruptive to an individual and family. All family members can be impacted either financially or emotionally. The goal of mediation is to reduce this tension. With the help of the mediator, couples negotiate their own settlement and learn techniques to resolve any potential future differences. Mediation allows for couples to retain control over the decisions that affect their lives and reduces the likelihood that their children can become caught in the middle. Mediators help couples work cooperatively despite the feelings of anger.

In Divorce Mediation, a specially trained mediator will help you and your spouse work together to reach a settlement. Mediators help couples separate their spousal role from their parental role. Couples learn to evaluate their present financial condition and provide for their future financial needs. With the mediators help you will actively participate in the negotiations leading to reasonable solutions and a mutually satisfactory agreement that considers the immediate and long term needs of all family members. The divorce mediator's job is to help a couple arrive at a fair and satisfactory settlement, with no winner or loser. The mediator is not an advocate for either party and does not make any decisions. Instead, the mediator helps the couple explore all possibilities and potential consequences. The mediator works to ensure that neither party gives away too much, nor dominates the other. On of the goals is to help balance the power.

It is highly recommended that you consult with an attorney at some point during the mediation process to ensure that you understand your legal rights and how it will apply to your specific situation. However using mediation will likely result in you using less legal services, thus reducing costs. After mediation, an attorney will draft the legal agreement which becomes a binding contract once accepted by the courts. It is recommended that each party have their own independent attorney to review the agreement before signing it.

Children: Parental Responsibility and Time, Child Support, Living Arrangements, Visitation Schedules and Many Other Issues. Division of Property: Marital home, cars, other personal property Spousal Maintenance: Whether there will be spousal support, the amount or length of time. Tax Implications Pensions and Retirement Plans Insurance and Medical Expenses Ways to avoid and resolve any future differences.

At the first session the mediation process is explained in detail. After this, the couple, with the help of the mediator will begin to identify the concerns that need to be addressed. Mediation sessions usually last for an hour and a half to two hours depending on the couples needs.

While the goal of mediation is to produce agreement, mediation also: Takes less time than other processes, so you can move ahead with your life Generally costs less than litigation Allows you to control the decisions that affect your life rather than have someone else decide for you Benefits children and others by reducing conflict Avoids public disclosure of financial and personal matters because it is confidential Benefits children and others by reducing conflict Avoids public disclosure of financial and personal matters because it is confidential Promotes communication and cooperation.

The cost of mediation is generally much lower than if you hired attorneys to represent you in your divorce without using mediation. Your mediation costs will be based on an hourly fee and initial retainer. These fees will be charged for all mediation sessions , time spent on reviewing and drafting documents, telephone consultations, e-mails, and consultations by the mediator with your attorneys or other advisors in the process.

All mediation's are conducted by experienced divorce attorneys or family therapists who have special training in divorce mediation which includes divorce law, financial planning, taxes, and the emotional effects of divorce on adults and children.