DIVORCE MEDIATION SERVICES
PPS Legal Document Assistants provides divorce mediation services and professional Legal document filing.
DIVORCE MEDIATION
Our Divorce Mediation services can help you and your spouse reach an agreement that best suits everyone involved including your children.
Your mediator should be trained in conflict resolution and have extensive knowledge of your state’s divorce laws. Additionally, your mediator should be willing to work with you and your spouse to facilitate a meaningful conversation about the issues at hand, which can help eliminate the finger-pointing and other drama that usually accompanies divorce. Typically, mediators will keep you on track and may make suggestions to help you resolve any lingering issues. However, your mediator can’t make decisions for you, force either spouse to accept a term, or insist that either spouse sign a contract.
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WILL DIVORCE MEDIATION WORK FOR ME?
For some couples, working with your spouse and a mediator might be just what you need to obtain a divorce with as little conflict as possible. But, mediation will only work if you and your spouse are on the same page. You are more likely to have a successful mediation if all or most of the following statements are true.
You and Your Spouse Agree to Divorce
Despite what we see on television—or what we often hear from friends or family—not all divorces are contentious. In some cases, the decision to divorce is mutual. If you and your spouse agree that the marriage is over, you can file a petition for divorce together or, one spouse can file with the other’s knowledge. When you’re both on the same page, it’s often easier to negotiate and work together to find a resolution for any unresolved divorce issues in mediation.
There’s No History of Domestic Violence
With divorce mediation comes the need for frequent meetings involving both spouses, the mediator, and possibly attorneys. If you and your spouse have a history of domestic abuse, most mediators won’t take your case because it’s difficult to keep both spouses on track, and it’s challenging for the mediator to determine if the victim agrees to the settlement because of fear or intimidation from the abuser. In states that require mediation, if you can demonstrate a history of physical violence, the court will excuse you from the mandatory sessions.
Both Spouses Are Forthcoming About Finances
One of the most complicated parts of any divorce is the finances. Both spouses must be willing to provide the other (and the mediator) with sensitive information, including documentation relating to bank accounts, retirement, pensions, stocks, and all other assets and debts. In most marriages, it's common for one spouse to be more familiar with the family assets and liabilities than the other. If you don't have all the relevant financial information, you’ll need to investigate and understand your marital estate before you agree to a proposed property settlement.
You Agree on Custody Terms
Next to finances, child custody and visitation can be the most challenging aspect of divorce. Most parents can set aside their differences for the children’s sake, but sometimes even the best intentions are met with complications.
Divorce mediation is an excellent way to work with your co-parent to decide who should care for the children on a day-to-day basis, who should be responsible for paying child support, and the type and frequency of visitation with the non-custodial parent.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR OUR MEDIATION APPOINTMENT?
If you want to get a head start on preparing for divorce mediation, which can often make the process go much smoother and faster, you can review the following divorce mediation checklist of documents to begin gathering.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING DIVORCE MEDIATION?
Divorce mediation doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process. Most of our mediation cases get resolved within the first two sessions. Each session is two hours and scheduled at a time that is convenient for our clients.
We typically start with an initial consultation to set the groundwork expectations. In this consultation, we’ll determine the issues that need to be resolved, obtain the details necessary to commence divorce proceedings, establish a timeline for mediation, assign homework, and determine if any experts may be necessary to review how the process works.
Session 1: Sign Documents and Review Disclosures
In this first session, we will review and explain the divorce documents and the petitioner will sign them. We will review your disclosures together to ensure there is a mutual agreement of completeness, exchange disclosures, and calculate temporary support if it applies.
At the end of this session, you will be given the task of identifying all assets and debts (both community and separate), as well as putting together a list of all your income and expenses.
Session 2: Parenting Plan, Child and/or Spousal Support
During the second session, you will negotiate a parenting plan if it’s applicable. Afterward, you’ll exchange income and expense declarations. We will use this information together with your negotiated parenting plan to provide a base amount for calculated support.
Session 3: Negotiate Asset, Debt Allocation, and Spousal Support If Applicable
After the service of divorce documents to the respondent, the third session is all about negotiations. Once all disclosures, valuations, and investigations are complete you will negotiate the details of how you want to divide your assets and debts.
If long-term spousal support or child support is applicable, we’ll review the support calculations and parenting plan, and draft a marital settlement agreement (MSA). We’ll also discuss all “boilerplate” clauses and make any agreed upon changes.
Session 4: Sign Final Documents
This is the last session we’ll have where we will meet for you to sign the request for divorce and the agreement documents.
Who else can attend divorce mediation?
Only divorce parties are allowed to attend mediation. However, it is recommended that you consult with a lawyer if you are not sure about your rights and obligations.
Ready To Get Started?
Our initial consultation is free!