PO Box 190114 Mobile, AL 36619
251-665-3747
jennifermcdonald5@yahoo.com
*Email to schedule a free telephone consultation*
251-665-3747
jennifermcdonald5@yahoo.com
*Email to schedule a free telephone consultation*
DIVORCE
MEDIATION
MEDIATION
Divorce mediation is a voluntary alternative to the traditional litigation process for spouses
who wish to settle their divorce outside of court, but are having trouble reaching an agreement on their own. It is a private and confidential process where you and your spouse sort through the unresolved legal issues of your divorce together with the help of a trained neutral mediator. The mediator is there to provide information, guide the discussion, and suggest ideas to help the parties decide what is fair and reasonable for their unique situation. The goal is for both parties to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to both parties.
who wish to settle their divorce outside of court, but are having trouble reaching an agreement on their own. It is a private and confidential process where you and your spouse sort through the unresolved legal issues of your divorce together with the help of a trained neutral mediator. The mediator is there to provide information, guide the discussion, and suggest ideas to help the parties decide what is fair and reasonable for their unique situation. The goal is for both parties to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to both parties.
Will I Still Need an Attorney? Yes. When you work with a neutral mediator, the mediator will help you both understand the issues involved in your divorce, but they CANNOT GIVE SPECIFIC LEGAL ADVICE OR REPRESENT EITHER OF YOU AS AN ATTORNEY. It is recommended that each party consult with an attorney to advise you of your individual rights and review any final agreements before signing.
Once you have successfully completed mediation, you will need to follow up by filing an uncontested divorce. The spouse who will be filing as the Plaintiff will need to hire an attorney to prepare and file the divorce, incorporating the agreement your mediator has prepared.
What Are the Advantages of Mediation?
* Confidential- Everything discussed in mediation is private and confidential, and both parties must agree not to use anything said in mediation against the other in Court.
* You Keep Control- You and your spouse will make all final decisions and control how fast or slow we proceed. Our goal is to find an agreement that you both find satisfactory, to the greatest extent possible. Rather than leaving it up to the Court or less-than-ideal settlements when you're just too tired to fight anymore, you and your spouse are making your own decisions about what's best for your family, under the guidance of an informed neutral mediator.
* Promotes a Better Post-Divorce Relationship- The cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution skills that are encouraged in mediation can significantly increase your chances of being able to treat each other with courtesy and respect after the divorce. This is critical when children are involved.
* Saves Time and Money- Avoiding the litigation process can save an enormous amount of time and money that could be put to better use by your family.
* Less Stress- Mediation can help you avoid the enormous stress of the litigation process, including waiting for hearings and testifying in court. Most importantly, you have the opportunity to significantly reduce the stress that divorce brings to your children. Since you are working for a win-win solution, the overall amount and intensity of conflict may be greatly reduced, making an unavoidably painful experience easier for everyone to deal with.
Will Divorce Mediation Work for Me? That depends on you and your spouse and your commitment to the process. Mediation can work EVEN IF you and your spouse are angry at each other. Since it is a completely voluntary process, either of you may withdraw at any time if it is not working for you.
Mediation may not be the right option for you if there is a history of abuse in the relationship, a situation where either party is not comfortable speaking up for themselves, or where there is significant concern either spouse is hiding assets or not being forthcoming about their financial situation. In these situations, it may be in your best interest to hire your own attorney to represent you during the entire divorce process to ensure your rights are protected.
Mediation may be an unnecessary step if you and your spouse are already close to agreement on the major issues and can likely proceed directly to an uncontested divorce.
Once you have successfully completed mediation, you will need to follow up by filing an uncontested divorce. The spouse who will be filing as the Plaintiff will need to hire an attorney to prepare and file the divorce, incorporating the agreement your mediator has prepared.
What Are the Advantages of Mediation?
* Confidential- Everything discussed in mediation is private and confidential, and both parties must agree not to use anything said in mediation against the other in Court.
* You Keep Control- You and your spouse will make all final decisions and control how fast or slow we proceed. Our goal is to find an agreement that you both find satisfactory, to the greatest extent possible. Rather than leaving it up to the Court or less-than-ideal settlements when you're just too tired to fight anymore, you and your spouse are making your own decisions about what's best for your family, under the guidance of an informed neutral mediator.
* Promotes a Better Post-Divorce Relationship- The cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution skills that are encouraged in mediation can significantly increase your chances of being able to treat each other with courtesy and respect after the divorce. This is critical when children are involved.
* Saves Time and Money- Avoiding the litigation process can save an enormous amount of time and money that could be put to better use by your family.
* Less Stress- Mediation can help you avoid the enormous stress of the litigation process, including waiting for hearings and testifying in court. Most importantly, you have the opportunity to significantly reduce the stress that divorce brings to your children. Since you are working for a win-win solution, the overall amount and intensity of conflict may be greatly reduced, making an unavoidably painful experience easier for everyone to deal with.
Will Divorce Mediation Work for Me? That depends on you and your spouse and your commitment to the process. Mediation can work EVEN IF you and your spouse are angry at each other. Since it is a completely voluntary process, either of you may withdraw at any time if it is not working for you.
Mediation may not be the right option for you if there is a history of abuse in the relationship, a situation where either party is not comfortable speaking up for themselves, or where there is significant concern either spouse is hiding assets or not being forthcoming about their financial situation. In these situations, it may be in your best interest to hire your own attorney to represent you during the entire divorce process to ensure your rights are protected.
Mediation may be an unnecessary step if you and your spouse are already close to agreement on the major issues and can likely proceed directly to an uncontested divorce.
No representation is made that the quality of services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
©2010 by Jennifer McDonald. All rights reserved. Materials found at this website may be reproduced for personal use and non-commercial distribution. Copies must include this copyright statement. The information found on this website is not intended as legal advice. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your individual circumstances.
©2010 by Jennifer McDonald. All rights reserved. Materials found at this website may be reproduced for personal use and non-commercial distribution. Copies must include this copyright statement. The information found on this website is not intended as legal advice. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your individual circumstances.
