FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS
OUR FAMILY LAW SERVICES INCLUDE:
Dissolution
Custody and Residential Agreements
Paternity Establishment or Disestablishment and Testing
Third party visitation, Extended Families, Pets
Financial agreements, Alimony or Maintenance
Separation contracts, Prenups, Antinups
Child support
Domestic violence
Modifications of Child Support and Modificatons of Residential Schedules we offer:
FREE ONE-HALF HOUR MARITAL MEDIATION CONSULTATION THROUGH THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
Marital Mediation for Spouses
Family Mediation – to include Children, Extended and Blended Families, Pets
Court Ordered Settlement Conference
Arbitration
Collaborative and Cooperative Dissolution
There is a broad spectrum of choices for couples who wish to be proactive in the outcome of their dissolution. Mediation is becoming the popular choice as a low-cost alternative to traditional divorce
Marital Mediation is for couples seeking a divorce who want to avoid protracted litigation and trial. Mediators are often in a good position to analyze finances, evaluate self-destructive behaviors, and child rearing issues; as well as discovering new or creative options, and assisting the couple in finding day to day working solutions before, during and after a dissolution.
After marriages break up feelings of resentment arise because one spouse feels the other is not contributing enough to the support and upkeep of the children. Contributions as to earning money, working long hours, taking care of the house, caring for children or other family members can be analized and balanced by agreement.
Most divorced couples experience conflict over who should pay maintenance and the amount. Careful legal and financial analysis put into an understandable presentation can move the process forward so that parties make their decision from a position of knowlege rather than emotion.
Mediation Process in Divorce
A divorcing couple will meet together with a mediator, and in many cases, also with the parties’ attorneys, in a series of scheduled sessions which are confidential to future court or administrative hearings (except in some violent or criminal actions).
The key is that the couple is encouraged to state the problem as they view it and bring any helpful documentation to clarify their position. The mediator is there to help define and organize the issues, keep discussions on track, minimize unproductive or hostile discussion, and generally help discover solutions.
A successful mediated divorce is “legal” and “binding”
Whether you reach a divorce agreement through the two-attorney litigation approach, or through mediation, all divorces become “legal” and binding when the case is filed with the court. In all successfully mediated cases, the court appearance is a relatively simple “uncontested hearing” in which the couple presents its agreement to the judge and asks the judge to accept it. At the end of the hearing, your divorce, and your agreement is binding.