This is their childhood, they are your children; why would you let attorney’s decide where they live?
Divorce and custody mediation as a solution for families who have reached the point of the dissolution of the marriage relationship is a strikingly different alternative to the traditional divorce process. While the goal is always to work to preserve a healthy marriage for the sake of all involved, when it becomes clear that there are no additional avenues of exploration to journey down in search of creative solutions to promoting and restoring couple’s commitments, then we must face the unpleasantness of considering the 800-lib gorilla: What now?
Far too often we are tempted to each retain an attorney and begin the process of collecting written statements from friends and family hailing ‘us’ as the superior individual and parent, and ‘vilifying’ our child’s other parent as a deeply flawed and pathologically unhealthy person. When this is the first step, tensions are raised, feelings are hurt even more deeply, and adults become more entrenched in positions that they might have otherwise outgrown or moved on from naturally is the likely case when we embrace the adversarial nature divorce attorneys and family court promotes by reputation alone.
Courts and Attorneys are not the ultimate authorities on your family. They are not even possessors of expert knowledge regarding your child - you are! When we cede the power of determining the custody arrangements and decision-making authority to people with law degrees and a transactional view of settlement, as opposed to using a mediation approach wherein the chosen third-party has not only an understanding of the issues to be worked through (ie, property division of both real and personal property, debt and support, and parenting plans)., but also know that there are very real issues of child development needs that need to be addressed. Plus, having agreement on parenting plans among the real stakeholders who will remain invested - instead of the hired representatives who rule and then remove themselves from the situation - is much better for anyone.
We hope that we can work together to promote the bets outcomes for your marriage. We hope that you are motivated to work towards a more equal and fulfilling time together as a couple and family. We are ready to help you work together to explore all of your options and to make sure that you are establishing and reinforcing boundaries that are clear, healthy, and consistent. When those goals still don’t get you where you want to be - we can also help you with recommendations about local mediation resources that allow you to maintain control of your family, and your life. These options are usually accomplished at a fraction of the cost and in a portion of the time that traditional legal fees and schedules are likely to produce.
Contact us today to work through the confusion, uncertainty, and to reclaim the control of your life and family that feels like it is on the verge of slipping away. This is not a fun time, but we can work together to keep you, the parents, in control of the situation - and to help keep your family growing together even when you are living apart.
Tory
864-214-5490