Mediation Without Individual Lawyers

Mediation is assisted settlement negotiation.  A divorce mediator is someone who is knowledgeable about family law, and is specially trained to be neutral and help couples come to agreements.  A mediator will not make a decision for you; instead he or she will help you identify what’s most important to you; generate and evaluate options; and come up with the best plan for your family by agreement.

You and your spouse may be able to reach an agreement with only the help of a good mediator instead of hiring separate attorneys.  Although the mediator can’t be on either party’s side, he or she can help you identify and understand the issues that need to be addressed, and the mediator will help you avoid re-inventing the wheel.  An experienced mediator will have seen many couples through the trying time of divorce and may have ideas for coming to agreements that never occurred to you.

This kind of mediation will not work if both clients don’t have all the information they need to make informed decisions.  A good mediator will walk you through the decisions that need to be made, but he or she will not give you legal advice.  The case will not be resolved if you and your spouse can’t reach an agreement.

The lawyers at The Law Offices of Jennifer Tull have developed a mediation system called, “Integrated Mediation” that guides couples through the information-gathering, option-generating and negotiation process during one- to two-hour sessions over a period of weeks.  This multi-stage process encourages couples to call on outside resources to provide information – appraisals of property or advice about a schedule for the children, for example – so that they can make the most informed decision possible with the least amount of fighting and efficient use of financial resources.

If you and your spouse agree to go to a mediator to help you reach an agreement without hiring separate lawyers, click below and schedule an appointment to learn more.

Strengths:

A mediator helps balance negotiating power between spouses

Mediators assure that all necessary issues are addressed in an agreement

The mediation process helps parties stay focused on settling and keep from arguing

Mediators can offer creative alternatives that may not occur to the parties

Weaknesses:

Neither party has separate legal advice

One or both parties might give up legal rights

No decision is made unless there is an agreement