Family Mediation

WHAT IS FAMILY MEDIATION?

Family mediation is a structured, confidential process that gives parties an opportunity to address disputed issues with the assistance of a neutral mediator.

Rather than having the mediator decide the outcome, the parties work through the issues, consider possible options, and determine whether they can reach a voluntary agreement. Depending on the matter, agreements reached in mediation may be submitted to the Court for review and approval.

WHO PARTICIPATES?

Family mediation may involve self-represented parties or parties represented by attorneys. When counsel is involved, attorneys may participate consistent with applicable court orders, rules, and the circumstances of the mediation.

Participation by additional individuals is addressed in accordance with applicable requirements and the mediation process. Because family matters can involve sensitive and confidential information, mediation is not an open proceeding.

WHAT CAN WE ADDRESS?

Every family is different, and so are the decisions that bring people to mediation. Depending on the case, discussions may include:

Divorce • Parenting Plans • Timesharing • Parental Responsibility • Child Support • Alimony • Property Division • Marital Debt • Post-Judgment Issues • Modifications • Other Family-Related Disputes

The parties may reach a full agreement, a partial agreement, a temporary agreement or no agreement at all. Even when every issue cannot be resolved, mediation may help narrow the matters that remain in dispute.

WHAT IF SUPPORT IS AN ISSUE?

Child support and alimony may be addressed as part of the mediation when appropriate.

When either or both parties are represented by counsel, I do not independently calculate child support or alimony.

Legal advice and financial calculations related to those obligations remain the responsibility of the parties and their respective attorneys.

DO WE HAVE TO AGREE?

No.

The mediator does not have the authority to force a settlement. Each party retains the ability to decide whether proposed terms are acceptable.

Sometimes mediation resolves every issue. Sometimes it resolves only a few. And sometimes the parties leave without an agreement.

The measure of the process isn't whether someone was pressured into saying yes. It's whether the parties had a meaningful opportunity to determine whether an agreement made sense for them.

"Fine Print"

WHEN THE CASE ENDS, FAMILY LIFE CONTINUES.

Family mediation is unique because a signed agreement does not necessarily end the relationship between the people involved. Parents may still share graduations, school events, holidays, medical decisions, schedule changes, and countless ordinary moments long after the court case is closed.

That reality shapes my approach to family mediation.

The goal is not to determine who was the better spouse, who started the conflict, or who deserves to “win.” My role is to help create a productive environment where the issues requiring decisions can be addressed without unnecessarily adding to the conflict the family may carry beyond mediation.

FAMILY MATTERS I MEDIATE

Divorce & Dissolution
Property, debts, financial issues, and other matters that must be addressed as a marriage comes to an end.

PARENTING & TIMESHARING
Parenting plans, timesharing schedules, parental responsibility, holidays, school-related decisions, and other issues affecting co-parenting.

CHILD SUPPORT & ALIMONY
Support-related issues may be discussed and negotiated during mediation. When either or both parties are represented by counsel, I do not independently calculate child support or alimony. Those calculations and related legal advice remain the responsibility of the parties and their attorneys.

POST-JUDGMENT & MODIFICATION
Sometimes circumstances change after the original case is over. Mediation may provide an opportunity to address new disagreements or proposed changes without immediately returning the dispute to litigation.

WITH OR WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY

REPRESENTED?
I work with attorneys and their clients while respecting the important distinction between the roles of counsel and mediator. Your attorney remains your advocate and source of legal advice; I remain neutral.

SELF-REPRESENTED?
You are also welcome at the mediation table. I can explain the mediation process and facilitate discussions, but I cannot provide legal advice, advocate for either party, or determine what either person should accept.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUCCESS

Not every successful mediation looks the same.

For some families, success means reaching a complete agreement. For others, it may mean resolving several issues while narrowing the ones that remain. Sometimes it means finally understanding what is preventing an agreement and making an informed decision about what happens next.

Settlement is never guaranteed—and it is never forced.

The decisions belong to the parties.

NEED A MEDIATOR FOR A FAMILY MATTER?

Attorneys and parties are welcome to contact House of B.A. regarding availability, rates, scheduling, and case-specific administrative questions.

Inquiries are generally answered within one business day.

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