Family Mediation

What do family mediators do?

We help people resolve disagreements about marriage, separation, divorce, parenting schedules, child support, alimony, property division, elder care, the family budget, distribution of inherited property, family business succession, and other family members.

How does mediation work?

In a confidential setting, the mediator helps each party to communicate what is important to him or hear and to hear what is important to the other party. With the help from the mediator, the parties:

• Identify the issues that need to be resolved

• Prioritize the issues and focus on one at a time;

• Discuss possible solutions;

• Come to agreement about plans, financial or other issues;

• Have a draft prepared of their emerging agreement and;

• Review, revise, and prepare the agreement for signing.

Is mediation always successful?

While no method of conflict resolution is always successful, the rates of success for mediation are better than those for litigation. This is partly because in mediation both parties "win", whereas in litigation only one party "wins". Success in mediation does require that both parties negotiate in good faith and want to resolve matters.