FACT SHEET ON FAMILY AND DIVORCE MEDIATION
Q: What is Divorce Mediation?
A: Divorce mediation is an enlightened way to resolve financial and parental issues
when couples decide to separate and divorce. Mediation seeks to minimize the adversarial
process by helping couples to negotiate the settlement issues that will become the basis
for a formal separation agreement by enlisting the aid of a trained mediator.
Q: Who can use a Divorce Mediation?
A. Mediation is for people who:
- Want control over the decisions affecting their lives.
- Want co-operative long-term family solutions, focusing on the future for themselves and
their children.
- Want to avoid court-ordered decisions.
- Want to reduce the time and possible stress and expense of an adversarial divorce.
Q: What is the Mediator's role?
A. The mediator is a neutral third party who provides a structured environment in which
couples can make decisions. The mediator is a catalyst who helps the parties reach an
agreement, but who has no authority to impose a settlement. A mediator can make
suggestions, propose options, reason, persuade, re-frame issues, formalize offers, and
recommend possible ways of resolving a disagreement.
Q: What is the Attorney's role?
A. Couples planning separation and divorce are urged to consult separate attorneys to
obtain legal advice prior to signing any Separation Agreement. One of the party's
attorneys will then submit the documents necessary to obtain a divorce to the Court.
Q: What issues may be covered in Mediation?
1. Financial and Property
Determination of marital income, assets, liabilities.
Development of budgets.
Finding a system for division of marital property.
Defining and rescheduling spousal maintenance and/or child support.
2. Parenting Arrangements
Assessment of children's and parents' needs.
Exploration of possible living arrangements.
Defining opportunities for parental access to children.
Considering changing needs as children grow older.
3. Future Planning and Decision Making
Anticipation of future needs and possibilities.
Alternative for avoiding future litigation.
Development of procedures for problem-solving and decision making.
Q: How does the process work?
1. Assessment
Divorce Mediation is intended for couples who are ready to separate and divorce. The
orientation session with the mediator is used to evaluate whether mediation is
appropriate. At that point, the couple and the mediator decide either to (1) proceed with
the mediation process, or (2) to work on the issues using other professionals such as
psychiatrists, social workers, etc., or (3), to each retain an attorney and proceed to
adversarial divorce litigation in State Supreme Court.
2. Issue Identification and Preparation
Family information and financial data forms are completed. Issues to be decided are
identified and the parties begin to work with the mediator on setting priorities. Focusing
on the issues is an important step in finding ways to resolve them.
3. Negotiation
Serious attention to possible alternatives and the weighing of choices offer the
parties the opportunity to move toward decisions. Throughout negotiations, care is taken
that all family members' needs and concerns are addressed.
4. Agreements
The result of the mediation sessions is a proposed Separation Agreement, also called a
Property Settlement Agreement, which is prepared in draft form by Mr. Leininger. Each
party receives a copy of this proposed agreement so that his or her attorney may review
the proposed agreement, answer any questions he or she may have, etc. One attorney
thereupon prepares the agreement in final form, it is signed by both of you and one
attorney files the necessary papers to permit his client to obtain an uncontested divorce,
which will result in a Judgment of Divorce which incorporates the terms of the Separation
Agreement into it.
Q: How long is a typical Mediation?
A. In general, mediation is a short-term process, usually lasting about 5 - 7 sessions
of 90 minutes each, if there are parenting issues to consider. If the issues are only
financial in nature, the time is usually less. Typically, weekly meetings are scheduled,
and the work can be completed in 4 - 8 weeks.
Q: What does Mediation cost?
A. The fee for an orientation session, which lasts 30 minutes, is $100.
If you decide to proceed with Divorce Mediation, a retainer fee of
$
