“Family and divorce mediation is a process in which a mediator, an impartial third party, facilitates the resolution of family disputes by promoting the participants’ voluntary agreement. The family mediator assists communication, encourages understanding and focuses the participants on their individual and common interests.”
From: Ohio Supreme Court, Rules Governing the Courts of Ohio, Appendix F: Model Standards for Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation.
The mediation process offers a civilized and healing alternative to just filing for divorce and starting a war that is financed from the family assets. It involves specific protocols and divorce-mediator trained attorneys. It provides a safe, private alternative to a public trial and is likely the most cost-effective approach to domestic disputes. Mediation offers the opportunity for you to decide what the rest of your life is going to be like instead of leaving it to a judge who has never met you, your spouse or your family. It is a superior alternative to restructuring families that would otherwise head for divorce court.
A 2001 study reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology by R.E. Emery also demonstrates there is a long-term benefit to divorce mediation as compared with litigation. Twelve years after divorce high-conflict couples who mediated the termination of their marriage reported non-residential parents had three times more contact with their children than the litigation group or the national average. Over half of nonresident parents who mediated talked with their children weekly, as compared to 14% in the litigation group and 18% in the national average. Residential parents said that their former spouses did a better job of parenting in every category and communicated better about the children’s activities and needs. Parents appreciated the mediation process as far less disruptive while giving each a voice, focusing on the long view, the opportunity to work together, learning about their children’s needs and co-parenting. These things were accomplished while recognizing the grief as a source of anger for each.
Call us at (440) 892-0400 and let us explore with you whether mediation is the right process for you and your family. Even if you are unsure what process is the best for you and your family, we can guide you through the various alternative processes for dispute resolution. The damage that it can avoid is worth the telephone call.
