Divorce Mediation

 Posted on October 13, 2017 in Divorce

Dissolving a marriage does not necessarily have to be contentious. In fact, many couples are able to come to decisions regarding custody, child support, and property division without a judge’s intervention. When this is possible, it can significantly cut down on expenses, save time, and help protect children from the more emotional aspects of divorce. Mediation is one of the best ways to achieve this type of result, so if you and your spouse are both focused on an amicable divorce, please contact a member of our experienced divorce legal team to learn more about your options.

What Does the Mediation Process Involve?

Mediations are one of the most popular methods of negotiating a divorce settlement and involve a meeting between both parties, their respective lawyers, and a neutral third party. This third party, known as a mediator, is tasked with helping couples resolve the following kinds of issues by facilitating discussion and negotiation:

• Child custody arrangements;
• Visitation schedules;
• Parenting plans;
• Spousal support; and
• Property division.

Mediators are not responsible for accepting or rejecting an agreement, but instead focus exclusively on helping the parties involved come to a resolution that is in the family’s best interests.

The Advantages

There are a variety of advantages to divorce mediation. For example, mediation usually costs much less than a trial or a series of hearings before a judge. Furthermore, all mediations are confidential, so no public records are created revealing what was discussed during a session. Many couples also report that mediation assists in communication and helps the parties avoid conflicts and contention, but perhaps most importantly, mediation allows parents to retain control over the outcome of their divorce by creating an arrangement that is best for their family. This is in stark contrast to court cases, where judges have the discretion to create a visitation schedule or divide assets as they see fit. While these solutions are based on objective legal principles, they do not always reflect the specific needs of a particular family.

Although there are a number of advantages to mediating a divorce, it is not a good option in all situations. If there is domestic violence, for example, the parties should carefully consider entering into this type of arrangement. Mediation can also be used as a stalling tactic by a spouse who wants to prevent resolution or avoid paying child support.

Speak with a Dedicated and Compassionate Divorce Attorney

If you are considering filing for divorce and are interested in mediation or a collaborative dissolution, please contact us to speak with one of the experienced Cedar Park divorce attorneys at Powers Kerr & Rashidi, PLLC about obtaining the representation you deserve. A member of our legal team is standing by and eager to help you throughout each step of your case.

Source:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/j-richard-kulerski/what-most-people-dont-kno_b_1220249.html