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Family Mediation, A More Peaceful Alternative
Mediation is a voluntary method of settling disputes in which a neutral mediator, with no decision-making authority, assists the parties in negotiating a mutually beneficial settlement. It has been called 'no-fault conflict resolution' because the goal is to reach a solution fairly and quickly, not to decide who is right or wrong in a costly courtroom battle.
The Benefits of Family Mediation
| Control |
You control the outcome of the process, because you don't sign the settlement agreement until you are convinced that it will work for you. |
| Benefits to Children |
Children of a relationship deserve to be protected during their parents' separation and divorce. Mediation provides the oppportunity for parents to cooperate in settling their divorce details and may lessen the likelihood that either party will be tempted to put a child in the middle of a dispute. In addition, where successful, mediation eliminates the need for litigation and may lessen the emotional trauma children might suffer. |
| Cost |
In mediation you negotiate directly, without using attorneys as intermediaries, so the cost is greatly reduced. Because you do not need any court hearings and because the focus is on cooperation, not competition, you can save thousand of dollars. We estimate that divorce mediation saves each couple 50% to 95% of what they would have spent had they litigated their divorce. Whereas the cost of a litigated divorce usually ranges from $10,000 to $200,000 per couple, in mediation most couples pay far less. |
| Timing |
The pace of the mediation is up to you. Most divorce mediations take four to eight sessions of one to three hours. The mediation sessions are arranged at intervals that suit the participants. No one makes hasty decisions based on the emotions of the moment. Each decision is thoroughly thought out and talked out. |
| Privacy |
Mediations are done in the privacy of my office, as opposed to the public arena of a courtroom. |
| Custom-designed agreements |
Each agreement is designed to fit the unique needs of the participants. Each issue is discussed and decided in the context of what works for you and for the others involved. Many clients design agreements that differ significantly from what a judge would have ordered. In the long run, what counts is that all involved feel that the agreement is fair. |
| Maintaining working relationships |
Whenever possible it is preferrable to maintain a future working relationship. Especially when minor children are involved, parents will need to maintain ongoing contact. In the informal setting of a mediation, parties experience a confidential, non-adversarial forum where they can create their own solutions. Mediation can help neutralize hurt feelings - building bridges - paving the way for successful future dealings. |
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