Separation/Divorce Mediation

In Separation/Divorce mediation, married partners work with a mediator to come to their own agreements on issues that arise or need clarification as a result of the change in family structure. These may include parenting responsibility, residential schedules for children, financial support for children, distribution of assets and debts, spousal maintenance and others. A Memorandum of Understanding summarizes the agreements reached in mediation. This can then incorporated into a legal settlement.

Participants in mediation are encouraged to seek the services of other professionals (e.g., legal, financial, mental health, etc.) at any time they believe it to be in their interest to do so. When participants desire to create legally binding agreements, each are strongly encouraged to select an attorney to provide necessary legal services, including consultation/review, transcription and filing of their agreement. It is recommended that participants identify, as early as possible, the professionals with whom they will be working in relation to the separation/divorce process.

Why Divorce Mediation?

• The cost of a mediated divorce is estimated to be 65 to 75 percent less than the cost of an adversarial divorce.
• A typical mediated agreement regarding the terms of separation can be accomplished in a few weeks to a few months.
• You will be working toward an agreement that both parties find acceptable, potentially enhancing your ability to work together in the future as parenting partners.
• Mediation strives to empower the parties, enhancing self-esteem and the ability to recognize multiple perspectives.

“You think because you understand one that you understand two, because one and one are two. But you must also understand ‘and’.”