What is Mediation?
Mediation is a time-tested process to resolve a dispute between parties with the help of a trained third-party neutral mediator. In the context of a family law case, mediation empowers the parties to come to an agreed resolution of their matter with your unique understanding and knowledge of your family’s particular circumstances. Mediation can end the continued expense and stress of court proceedings. But, more importantly,it allows the parties who will live with the decision to maintain control of decision making and resolution. Court proceedings place all decision making in the hands of a judge or, in certain matters, a jury.
Mediation is a safe and confidential process that encourages informed decision making with the assistance of each party’s attorney and facilitation of the process by the neutral mediator.
What Does a Mediation Look Like?
Mediations I facilitate are conducted at our offices (or another mutually agreed location) with each party having a private and separate working area with his or her attorney. The initial part of the process in each mediation room involves careful listening and information gathering to determine your individual interests and goals for the resolution of the case. Throughout the remainder of the mediation, I will move from mediation room to mediation room with proposals, inquiries and options to work toward a mutual agreement which honors common interests and as many differing interests of each party as possible. If the process is successful, you will sign a “Mediated Settlement Agreement,” which sets out the agreements reached in the mediation process. The parties’ attorneys then prepare the required agreed orders or decrees to finalize the court case per that binding Mediated Settlement Agreement.
Why Choose Me as Your Mediator?
Simply put, because I believe deeply in the power of this process and I commit my full attention and energy to it. I have had the privilege to provide mediation services in multiple types of family law cases since 2006. I was originally trained at the University of Texas dispute resolution center and continue to seek ongoing education in dispute resolution procedures every year. Prior to my mediation training, my law practice was devoted, in greatest part, to family law, and I observed the tremendous toll the litigation process takes on parties and, most particularly, upon children caught up in the “fight”. I heard clients’ and parties’ say, again and again, there must be a better way. I know that there is, in fact, a better way for the majority of family law disputes to be resolved, and I am passionate about the use of mediation to preserve relationships for parties and children as they move forward with their lives after deep and significant change. I respect the trust you and your attorney place in me if I am selected to serve as your mediator.