Family and Divorce Mediation Topics
One of the greatest values provided by mediation to families is the mediator’s knowledge of possible areas of contention. Experienced family and divorce mediators should know the wide range of issues that can arise and the value of exploring these areas with their clients. It is up to the clients to determine if any issue or area of concern is worth exploring.
A few examples of often unexplored topics might include special dietary restrictions in both homes, passport acquisition, who is paying for larger expenses such as high school prom, and accommodations for disabilities. Boilerplate agreements do not necessarily cover these issues in the depth they deserve.
Many parents come to mediation without the knowledge and awareness of how to make the best use of their time in the mediation room. In our opinion, meaningful mediation is not only coming to an agreement on present-day issues, but also striving to eliminate the need to return to mediation/court in the future. This of course cannot be guaranteed, because not every issue can be predicted and court is sometimes inevitable. Additionally, the mediator’s job is not to guarantee a certain result or inform a party (or the parties) of what is best or advisable. However, many seasoned mediators facilitate mediations that seek to eliminate the need for their clients to require future mediation services. Sadly, this is sometimes (and often) not the case when clients solely rely on litigation.
Ragen Mediation, LLC provides a wealth of experience for participants engaged in family mediation. We are familiar with many issues that are often neglected in standard mediation settings.
Maybe you want to learn more, but do not want to invest in mediation services at this time. We want to help. This is why we have created the “Family Mediation Companion” which describes in greater detail the mediation process and lists some important issues that may be relevant to your situation. The best part is that this E-booklet is accessible to so many due to its low cost. Head over to the “Store” to purchase the Companion. Our hope is that this resource is valuable as you both navigate the new (or maybe old) waters of family mediation.
