Houston Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Divorce mediation has become much more common in recent years. It involves the husband, wife and a mediator sitting down and negotiating certain aspects of the divorce and in some cases, mediation has been successful in negotiating all of the aspects of a divorce. The mediator is an impartial third party. They will not offer either couple advice or act as a lawyer. Their job is to remain neutral and to facilitate discussion and negotiation between divorcing partners.

Divorce Mediators

A divorce mediator is not a lawyer and divorcing couples that are seeking mediation may still use the services of a divorce lawyer. A mediator is an effective accompaniment. While a divorce lawyer will be partial to whichever party he or she represents, a mediator is not. A mediator assists these negotiations without taking sides.

The results of mediation speak volumes. A skilled “divorce mediator” will be able to help both partners come to an agreement with which they are happy. If both parties are happy with the results then they are much less likely to find themselves back in court arguing about details of the divorce about which they were not happy. This can help to ease the stress caused by a divorce and makes the experience far less emotionally draining for many people.

Child Custody Mediation

Mediation is highly effective in dealing with child custody issues. In fact, mediation is now generally used for determining child custody. Whatever differences a divorcing couple has, they tend to both agree that the children are the primary concern. Mediation will involve discussing which parent should have primary custody of the children and how visitation will be handled. Depending on the age of the children involved, they might also have an input in this process. For some people, the process of actually sitting down and talking with their partner can be quite difficult but the result will be a parenting plan that both parties can agree on.

Financial Disputes Mediation

Divorce mediation can also be useful for solving financial disputes. Aside from child custody, financial concerns tend to be another rather contentious issue. Mediation can often aid in solving these financial issues rather quickly whether it is in the division of assets and family debts or negotiating child and/or spousal support. A mediator makes an excellent negotiation tool. Depending on the length of the marriage and the amount of assets involved, this can be one of the most difficult parts of the divorce process. A mediator can make this aspect go much more smoothly.

Finding a Skilled Mediator

The most important thing in mediation is finding a skilled mediator. Not all mediators are equal. The important thing is to find a mediator that is interested and able to do one thing, help the divorce proceed as quickly and painlessly as possible. Your family law attorney will be familiar with divorce mediators in your region and be able to recommend a good person for the job. Some divorce mediators act a little too much like marriage therapists which can be awkward to a couple that has truly decided upon divorce. A skilled mediator should be well aware of the legalities of divorce even if they are not actually a lawyer.

Types of Mediation

There are essentially two styles of mediation that are likely to take place in any divorce. In an extremely adversarial divorce where communication is impossible, both parties might be placed in different rooms with the mediator traveling from room to room. If domestic violence is involved then it is highly likely that this form of mediation will be employed. Much more effective is for the husband and wife to be in the same room. In this case, the mediator will guide the couple through any topics that need to be discussed. It can still be a tense situation but often dramatically accelerates the process. It is not uncommon to see a combination of the two types of mediation as tensions thaw. While a couple might start in a room-to-room situation, it is possible to progress to a discussion format.

Family Law Attorneys and Mediation

A family law attorney remains an important part of the equation. A mediator is unable to offer advice to either party. If both spouses have a divorce lawyer then they will have a good source of legal advice throughout the process. The mediator will allow the spouses to negotiate on terms suggested by their lawyers. Their different roles work very well together.

If you are looking for a respectable mediator, the best source of information is often your family lawyer. They will have experience in working with a number of different mediators and will have some idea as to the type of divorce mediator that is likely to be able to help in your situation. Finding the right mediator for the job is the best way to ensure that your divorce goes through as smoothly as possible so that you can move into your post-divorce life in a timely fashion.

Please call us today at 281-210-0010 or complete our contact form and let us assist you with your legal need.