What Family Services Do You Provide?
Family is the foundation of society. They are the people you love and care for. They create the community and environment that helps shape your view of the world around you. Given the emotional connectedness that family brings, there will be times of conflict and misunderstanding. This is where families can benefit from working with a mediator, to help them facilitate an effective communication about their concerns and interests, then develop a plan for how to move forward.
Since the dynamics vary for each family, the plan should outline their particular situation and the best interest of everyone involved. This is a voluntary process, which means that no one will be pressured to agree to anything they are not comfortable agreeing to. The agreement can be as detailed or as simple as you would like it to be. We will work with you until you find a solution that is right for your family situation.
Separation and divorce can be a very stressful and emotional process. When children are involved, the decisions regarding where the child will live, how the child will be raised, and a time-sharing schedule, can generate emotional issues for a couple. Mediation can help parents develop a plan for how to effectively raise their child(ren) regardless of if they are married to each other or not.
If the parents do not have an operative custody or visitation order, a person trained as a Parenting Coordinator can work with the parties to develop an agreed plan for custody and visitation during the mediation process. If the parents do have an operative custody order, but there are areas within the arrangement that has caused conflict between them, a Parenting Coordinator can help resolve the disputes about the interpretation and/or compliance with the order in an amicable way.
A Parenting Coordinator can assist the Participants with developing communication guidelines between them, as well as provide resources to assist the Participants with their co-parenting arrangement.
The following elements can be included in parenting plans:
- Time-sharing,
- Custody,
- Child support,
- Scheduling in terms of vacations, holidays, activities,
- Information access,
- Communication, etc.
A family mediator can show you the state guidelines for child support or you can work together to develop a calculation that is in the best interest of the child and works for everyone involved. The parents own the process as well as the agreement because they know their situation the best, and will better understand what will and will not work for them and the needs of their child.
Separation can be used as a method for couples to have some time apart to deal with issues separately with the hope of reconciling in the future. Or separation can be used as a step towards divorce. Whatever the reason for the separation, couples can benefit from developing an agreement outlining what the separation process will look like for them, and the best ways to handle it. Having a mediated plan can help take some of the stress out of the situation, and make it a more seamless transition.
The plan can help with decisions such as:
- Living Arrangements
- Budget
- Schedule, etc.
Divorce is a very emotion filled, life-changing event. Given the importance of this decision, it is normal for couples to become overwhelmed, frustrated and uncertain of where to begin and how to start the discussion. Having a written, mediated plan can help you file for divorce pro se (representing yourself) which would be a less stressful and inexpensive method.
Some elements that can be included in a divorce agreement can be:
- Financial Plan
- Asset Distribution
- Debt Division
- Spousal Support, etc.
Participants can have an attorney review all agreements prior to committing themselves to them, to ensure clear and informed decisions are made.
Mediation can be used to help families resolve other issues to maintain a harmonious home environment. Some issues that could be addressed are:
- Family Budget Concerns
- Parent-Teen Relationship Issues
- Aging Relative Issues, etc.
Having a written agreement can clear up misunderstandings and improve communication to avoid future disputes.