A divorce mediator is a neutral party. The attorney will not work on behalf of one client while ignoring the needs of the other. Instead, our mediator will help both parties agree to the terms of the divorce.
These issues include:
Distribution of property and assets
Distribution of debt
Child support
Custody agreements
Spousal maintenance
The mediator will facilitate the discussion for each issue, ensuring that the parties don’t get off-topic. Also, while the mediator cannot provide legal advice, he or she can go over New York’s laws. For instance, the mediator can explain how much spousal support the courts would likely grant or how the assets would be divided. This gives both parties insight into what they could expect if they went to court. It also makes it easier to come to an agreement during the divorce mediation process.
While the mediator provides legal information, the divorcing parties have control regarding their decisions. Mediation is not binding, so no one is forced to make a decision or agree. However, couples typically come to an agreement for all issues related to the divorce.
Couples usually meet at least three times with the mediator to work through the issues. However, some cases take eight or more meetings. Each meeting brings couples closer to the goal of agreeing on their divorce. While the amount of time it will take differs from one client to the next, mediation has four stages.