Child Custody - Mediation
In the course of a divorce, each of the couple might ask himself or herself this question: should I immediately go to court or just try child custody mediation first? Experts, at least those who advocate mediation, and those who have gone through the process, agree that there are very good reasons to try and mediate child support issues first.
When no agreement is reached, then the issue can be escalated to court.
Mediators generally cannot impose a solution, so you lose nothing when you try to mediate first.
Other advantages of mediation are: The process is much less fearful and individuals are typically willing to make more concessions simply because mediation is a cooperative method of resolving issues and isn't generally binding.
Similarly, individuals are permitted to speak about themselves more openly than in court since typically nothing you say or do in mediation can ever be used in a divorce case.
Being a professional, neutral party, the mediator should not be invested or interested in either side.
No witnesses or evidence would be necessary, and no lawyers are required (unless you want to consult with one prior to mediation and before signing the agreement reached).
Thus, this alternative dispute resolution comes with lesser fees than with a full trial.
Because there is no requirement to identify who committed a wrongdoing that aggravated the other side, unlike in court proceedings, mediation can arrive at a solution more rapidly.
Setting the tone for your relationship going forward will be beneficial to your child and will be setting as a good example.
You and your ex still need to communicate in some way even if you already parted ways.
Studies have shown that when their divorced parents continue to cooperate with each other, the children can cope much better.
In the event the 2 parties cannot be in the same location at the same time, the mediator can accommodate this and sessions can be done individually.
Going back and forth between parties and fixing a settlement until finally all is accomplished.
Putting aside personal quarrels or other issues for the child's sake is the foremost aim of mediation.
It redirects the focus to who is really important, the child.
In the end, when a good acquiescence is reached everybody wins.
When no agreement is reached, then the issue can be escalated to court.
Mediators generally cannot impose a solution, so you lose nothing when you try to mediate first.
Other advantages of mediation are: The process is much less fearful and individuals are typically willing to make more concessions simply because mediation is a cooperative method of resolving issues and isn't generally binding.
Similarly, individuals are permitted to speak about themselves more openly than in court since typically nothing you say or do in mediation can ever be used in a divorce case.
Being a professional, neutral party, the mediator should not be invested or interested in either side.
No witnesses or evidence would be necessary, and no lawyers are required (unless you want to consult with one prior to mediation and before signing the agreement reached).
Thus, this alternative dispute resolution comes with lesser fees than with a full trial.
Because there is no requirement to identify who committed a wrongdoing that aggravated the other side, unlike in court proceedings, mediation can arrive at a solution more rapidly.
Setting the tone for your relationship going forward will be beneficial to your child and will be setting as a good example.
You and your ex still need to communicate in some way even if you already parted ways.
Studies have shown that when their divorced parents continue to cooperate with each other, the children can cope much better.
In the event the 2 parties cannot be in the same location at the same time, the mediator can accommodate this and sessions can be done individually.
Going back and forth between parties and fixing a settlement until finally all is accomplished.
Putting aside personal quarrels or other issues for the child's sake is the foremost aim of mediation.
It redirects the focus to who is really important, the child.
In the end, when a good acquiescence is reached everybody wins.
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