ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT
MEDIATION WITH MEDIATOR MATTHEW M. HOUSE, J.D.
What is divorce mediation?
Mediation is a confidential process to
resolve disputes with the assistance of a neutral third party. The
mediator facilitates communication, including asking essential questions.
Divorcing people choose mediation to avoid the cost, time
and conflict of two lawyers battling.
In a family-related matter, it is essential that the
mediator be trained in the law so that all the necessary and forward-looking
information can be gathered before finalizing an agreement designed to protect
people’s peace of mind for the rest of their lives.
Who can use mediation?
Couples with or without children can use mediation to
divorce in a way that will settle all the appropriate legal, financial,
personal and child-related issues.
How long does mediation take?
The typical divorce mediation is resolved over a period
of one to two months. During this time there are usually three 2-hour
sessions.
Are children involved in the mediation?
Mediation invites children to express their needs in a
special session.This enables the
mediator to refocus the parents toward the children’s needs throughout the
mediation process.
Children do not attend the meetings that the parents have
with the mediator.However they are
welcome to spend this time in a separate, child-friendly room of the office.
What happens at the end of mediation?
You receive a detailed written report, explaining the
process and all the tentative decisions. It can be filed, with the required divorce
forms, at your county courthouse.You
may consult with an attorney to review your mediation report; most people file
without such consultation.
What does mediation cost?
Divorce mediation costs less (usually far less) than the
initial retainer charged by most divorce attorneys for one client, whereas the
mediation fee covers both spouses with a single fee.
