Child custody disputes are all too familiar in cases of divorce, and tend to be emotionally-charged situations. It’s no wonder that so many of these disputes end up in court, since hostility often drives parents away from a friendly discussion. However with family law mediation, children can remain untouched by parental conflict through the help of a trained mediator. As a result, custody fights can be quelled to reach mutually beneficial custody agreements.
What Is Family Law Mediation?
Rather than taking it to a judge, many couples choose family law mediation to settle custody agreements outside of the courtroom. Mediation entails in-person meetings with your partner, guided by a trained and unbiased mediator. With a mediator present, you and your partner can be guided towards the most mutually beneficial solutions in a completely confidential environment. A mediator’s ultimate goal is to lead their clients past the current chapter, with the confidence that the family’s future has been properly sorted out. With some time and effort, a hostile custody fight can be dampened into a mutually beneficial agreement between the involved parties.
The Goals of Mediation for Child Custody
There are three key goals to these mediation sessions, the first being to help build a parenting plan in the best interest of any children involved. Secondly, mediators strive to design a plan that allows any children to spend ample time with both parents. While many parents desire an even split, others may opt for a different time distribution based on their situation. Lastly, by encouraging in-person collaboration, mediation is geared towards helping you learn how to deal with any marital anger, frustration, or resentment that remains unresolved.
Family Law Mediation Saves You Time & Money
Taking a divorce case to court can take months, even years to settle – especially in Southern California. With longer timetables comes higher costs as well, although these losses of time and money are easily avoidable with the finesse of a vetted mediator. Family law mediation moves at your chosen pace, making it far more flexible than litigation. There are no court dates pressuring any decisions, or long waits to schedule out disputes. Most importantly, family law mediation ensures that your children’s future remains completely in the hands of you and your partner.
Start a Parenting Plan with a Settlement-Minded Family Law Attorney
Divorce is an emotional journey to endure. On top of the bitterness and anger which often result from a formal separation, the subsequent legal battles tend to make the whole process even more painful. At the Law Offices of Jennifer Owens, we revel in the power of choice. When spouses face divorce, they’re presented with a slew of decisions with a handful of potential outcomes. Our attorneys are believers in the best possible outcome, where a former couple chooses peace over destruction, so that they can finally move onto their next chapter. We can help with that. No matter your desired path – mediation, a negotiated settlement, or even litigation – The Law Offices of Jennifer Owens will achieve the best possible outcome by reaching a settlement that keeps all involved parties in mind. Visit our website to review our family law services or contact us online for a free consultation.