The mediation process employed at DIVORCE WITH DECENCY centers on the parties themselves dealing with specific unresolved issues and, with the aid of the mediator, arriving at mutually acceptable agreements which can then be formalized in writing by our experienced staff.

DIVORCE WITH DECENCY offers an alternative method for resolving divorce and post-divorce disputes that can help alleviate much of the stress, uncertainty and hostility. Mediation results in equitable, workable and lasting divorce agreements or post-divorce modifications.

Mediation provides an alternative to the adversary system which unfortunately casts divorcing spouses as opponents. In mediation, the spouses are viewed as cooperative adults who are restructuring their lives and the lives of their children. By selecting the mediation approach offered by DIVORCE WITH DECENCY, individuals in a dissolving marriage are choosing to take charge of their lives, and to maintain their sense of dignity and self-esteem. They are in effect saying that they prefer to end their marriage by a cooperative and rational procedure which minimizes the hostility, expense and uncertainty of divorce.

In divorce mediation, the husband and wife agree to hire an attorney or other neutral mediator to provide them with professional guidance toward a resolution of some of all the issues caused by their divorce. The mediator, although generally an attorney, is precluded from advising or representing either party against the other, but can provide legal information to both parties in order to help them to understand the law.

When couples participate in mediation, they:

• Maintain control over their own decision-making process. Any agreement reached in mediation is negotiated and agreed to by the couple and not imposed by a judge or any outside authority.
• Learn improved communication skills including the ability to negotiate further disagreements in an amicable and productive manner.
• Minimize the harmful effects of divorce on children. When the parents themselves select custody and visitation arrangements, it is easer to keep children out of the middle of conflicts.
• Generally save both time and money. Legal and counseling fees and court costs are minimized by avoiding protracted legal battles.
• Decrease the anxiety, pressure, stress, uncertainty and anger which traditional divorce litigation places on all involved parties.
• Emphasize a win/win rather than win/lose approach to conflict.

All issues arising between couples may be mediated through DIVORCE WITH DECENCY. These include the feasibility/desirability of the divorce itself, custody, visitation, child support, property division and spousal maintenance. The division of marital property, liabilities and assets, as well as the tax consequences and tax planning involved in a divorce proceeding, are all appropriate subjects for mediation. When children are involved, the issues of legal custody, physical custody and joint custody as well as the children’s living arrangements and health and educational needs are also viable subjects for mediation.

The DIVORCE WITH DECENCY mediators generally charge by the hour and fees are typically shared by the parties. The hourly fees charged by our mediators are comparable to the fees normally charged by experienced divorce attorneys.