Divorce Mediation – How to Work Through Your Divorce and Child Custody Agreement
Divorce Mediation in New York can be an affordable way for you to achieve peaceful resolution to your divorce. Divorce Mediation is a process where two qualified Divorce Mediators determine the issues that are important to each party involved. An impartial third party is also involved in this process. The mediator assigned to your case will assist in agreement negotiations between both parties. A Certified Divorce Mediator (C.D.M) or Licensed Divorce Attorney (L.D.A.) may represent you in court, but is not required to do so.
Divorce Mediation in New York involves a significant amount of time on the part of the couple. There is a cost associated with the divorce mediation; typically, it is funded through the fees of the attorneys who represent the couple. The average cost of divorce mediation in New York ranges from $4,500 to over $8,500. This price range includes the actual costs of conducting the mediation, including the travel time of the mediators, expenses for attorneys to travel to the couples’ residences, meals, luncheons or board meetings, and other expenditures that are related to conducting the mediation.
Many people believe that mediation is free, when in fact it is not. There may be a minimal contribution by the mediator towards the overall cost of the divorce mediation, depending on whether they are working for the defendants or the plaintiffs. In instances in which the mediator is paid by one side, their opinions are factored into the final settlement. Divorce Mediation in New York that utilizes the services of a divorce lawyer can have an additional cost. A divorce lawyer can require up to one-third of the fee that the mediator earns for the proceedings.
In addition to the cost of hiring a divorce mediator and paying a divorce lawyer, there is the cost of furnishing a courtroom. If both spouses decide not to use the services of an attorney, they will need to arrange for court fees and transportation costs to and from the courtroom. In some cases, if one spouse is represented by a competent attorney, there will be no court fees or transportation costs incurred, but only legal fees and mediation sessions.
Divorce Mediation in New York can be an extremely expensive process if both sides do not enter into agreements regarding issues involved in the settlement. Negotiations will involve issues concerning the division of assets, child support, property settlement, and child custody and visitation. At the end of the day, couples must decide what is important to them and what is not. Couples who fail to arrive at a settlement result in a great deal of stress, negative publicity, and negative feelings towards their spouse. They can also face significant consequences if the divorce is finalized in court. If negotiations fail and a judge confirms the divorce, then couples face the decision of whether or not to fight in court to have their names removed from the marital property.
Often, attorneys and family therapists are the last resort when a divorce mediator is unable to solve marital problems. The use of mediation by both parties provides the ability to handle sensitive issues involving child custody, visitation, and child support. By utilizing the services of an attorney, it is possible to retain an experienced expert to provide unbiased advice regarding these important matters. The cost of divorce mediation using mediation services is also typically lower than the costs of using a private attorney.
Family law mediators are licensed and experienced professionals. They represent the desires of couples who are unable to resolve their differences by traditional means. Divorce Mediation in New York allows the couple to work out an agreement that will be beneficial to them and their children after the divorce. This agreement is more likely to be favorable if both parties work together. In addition, mediators offer sound legal and financial advice to couples struggling with difficult issues during and after a divorce.
In most cases, a divorce mediator will charge the couples for their services. In some instances, however, a family law attorney may be hired by one party to mediate the dispute resolution between the spouses. In this instance, the mediator is not paid and will be responsible for his or her fees. Divorce Mediation in New York offers the divorcing spouses the ability to get the help they need to work out their differences without going to court. By using the services of an experienced and qualified divorce mediator, your needs and your goals can be met in a courteous and amicable manner.
