Divorce Mediation
DIVORCE AND SEPARATION
The process of separation and divorce can be one of the most emotionally challenging events in life. For couples with children, the prospect of divorce can be especially daunting. Best Mediation offers couples and families a healthier way to separate and transition to the next phase of life.
Every family is unique. At Best Mediation, we assist you in shaping decisions that will support you as individuals and meet the needs of your children. We specialize in resolving:
* Communication Issues
* Dissolutions of Marriages
* Parenting Plans and Custody Decisions
* Resolving All Financial and Support Issues
* Crafting a Maritial Settlement Agreement
* Provide Options for Court Filings
* Offers Apprpriate Referrals for Legal, Financial, or Emotional Needs
* Post- Divorce Issues and Parenting Plan “Tune-Ups”
* Non-Marital Domestic Partners
* Gay and Lesbian Couples
At Best Mediation, you and your spouse would sit down in the same room with each other and with the mediators. With the help of the mediators, you would work through all the issues you need to resolve so the two of you can get through your divorce.
It is the mediators' job to provide a neutral faciliation between partners. That means we will not give recommendations, advice, or act as a judge in your decisions making process. It is the mediators' job to mutually support each of you, to make the best decisions for your family as you navigate your divorce.
Mediation is flexible and confidential. It gives you and your spouse a way to settle the conflict between you in a way that helps you to work together as parents after your divorce.
Mediators do not give legal advice. Retaining an attorney or having at least an initial consultation may be very supportive to the mediation process. Information is power. Understanding what may or may not happen if you chose to litigate your divorce can empower you to make sound decisions. A lawyer may also be helpful in advising you between sessions.
It is the mediators' job to guide you through all the decisions that are relevant for you both to successfully dissolve your marriage. We surface all the questions and help you resolve all financial and / or parenting aspects of your divorce. This includes asset division, support issues, custody decisions, and parenting plans. At Best Mediation the process concludes with the production of a detailed Memorandum of Understanding, which can be filed at court either through an attorney or through a self-filing process. Filing your document at court creates a legally binding dissolution to your marriage. Once the judge signs your agreement, your divorce becomes finalized.
During your process we will encourage an open and free exchange of information. Full disclosure of all assets is a pre-requisite to the Divorce Mediation process. Because this process is both voluntary and confidential, spouses negotiate openly with one another--articulating concerns and working together to construct a future where each can build a new life.
People often ask, "Does mediation really work?" The answer is, YES! Research shows couples who have mediated their divorce are much more likely to be satisfied with the process and the results than couples who go through an adversarial divorce. Mediating couples are also less likely to go back to court and fight about something later. Couples who choose mediation spend significantly less money and time than if they chose the adversarial option of litigating.
The main advantage of mediation is that you and your spouse are in control of your own divorce. You make the decisions that are best for your family. This can make all the difference in your recovering from your divorce and moving on with your life in a positive, hopeful manner. At the least, mediation allows the two of you to get through your divorce with less conflict and cost than you would experience in an adversarial divorce.