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One of the hardest parts of divorce is determining exactly who should have your children and when. Nobody wants to feel like they are losing their children just because their marriage didn’t work out.

However, if you decide to go through mediation, it is important that you bring a clear head. You need to work together to figure out what is best for your children, or you will end up in court.

Here are some tips to determine child custody during mediation.

It is important that you think about who they spend more time with. In most families, responsibilities are split between a couple. That is also true for children. However, when determining who should have the children and when you really need to look at yourself and your spouse. Who helps them with their homework every night? Who makes sure that they get baths and eats right? Who practices sports with them?

This being said, you both have your own time with your children so your custody arrangement should show that. If you are the one who gets them up for school and on the bus, you probably should have the children during the week. If you play sports with them on the weekends, it makes more sense for you to have them on the weekends.

And who has the time for them. Everyone has to work, so it is important to realize when you have time for your children. If you work fourteen-hour days, they might be better off with your spouse during the week. If you work weekends, there is no point in hiring a babysitter when they could just stay with your spouse during that time.

Though you may not want to give up your children, you need to take a hard look at your life. You need to figure out who does what with them and when you each have time for the children. This can be hard to do, but it is in the best interest of your children!

Contact us for all of your legal needs. We will help you come to the best agreement for you and your children.

When a marriage isn’t working, it can affect everyone involved very negatively. In some cases, it is better for everyone if the relationship is ended amicably so that each side has the opportunity to get past the problems they’ve experienced as a result of the relationship. Many couples find themselves in a situation in which a clean break is difficult to achieve, and for people with children or complicated financial situations, long-lasting damage can occur in traditional divorce proceedings. It doesn’t have to be this complicated, and those who desire to begin the process of separating from their spouse, while still maintaining a healthy level of communication, should appreciate what the mediation process has to offer.

The Shortcomings of Traditional Methods of Divorce

Many people who decide that they wish to separate from their spouse, might find a lawyer and begin the divorce process as quickly as possible so that they can just get on with their lives. This is not always the best course of action, as it creates a situation where both sides are represented by someone who’s only concern is to deliver the most valuable outcome to their client, and after cases are made by both parties, their lives are ultimately split up based on a decision made by a Judge. Such an impersonal process can often exacerbate the situation and may ultimately cause a lot more animosity than necessary. Marriage is an extremely personal relationship and it would make sense that any attempt to repair or end one should be handled in a personal manner. Allowing a third party to dictate the terms of a divorce may not be the best way for everyone to deal with something like this, which is why it is important that every resource available to a married couple is explored.

The Value of the Mediation Process

Many of the weaknesses found with the traditional methods of divorce are actually the greatest strengths of mediation. When you and your spouse begin this process, you will be guided by a trained professional and by a mutual understanding to respect one another and maintain civility so that the best possible situation can be planned for and attained. When both parties are able to work through their relationship issues as a cooperative and are less inclined to see each other as enemies, they may begin to see the value of working with each other in a more personal and genuine fashion. A struggling marriage is hard enough to deal with, and people are considering divorce should look into this process if they desire to work on an ongoing relationship or end things on relatively good terms, be it for the well being of themselves, their children, or anything else impacted by their relationship. If this process sounds like it would be beneficial to you and your relationship with your spouse, or if you have any questions about mediation please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many people instantly think of divorce when they hear the word mediation. But there are other reasons to seek mediation. If you’re a member of the “sandwich generation” caught between your aging parents and your own children or grandchildren, online mediation may be beneficial for you. Here are three reasons to use online mediation for extended family issues.

Reduce arguments

Your aging mother wishes to remain in her home until her death. You believe it’s unsafe for her to live alone, but you can’t take her in. Your sister wants to put her in a nursing home. Your brother thinks she should be allowed to live at home if she wants. The four of you could argue over this until your mother’s passing, but what good is that?

Online mediation gives you a neutral, unbiased third party to help navigate the discussion. Your mediator will hear all sides, and try to find the common ground between you and areas where you can compromise. Your mediator will also keep everyone on track and bring the discussion back to the point if you start going off on unrelated tangents.

Make sure everything is covered

When you first realize that it’s not safe for your mother to live alone, you might seek mediation to try to convince everyone that she needs a full-time caregiver or to go into a nursing home. But the situation is much more complex than that. You need to think about things like health and medical care, living expenses, end of life measures, what to do with the property she owns, and more.

Many families don’t immediately think of all the related concerns. An online mediator will help to ensure that you cover all the bases so that nothing is left to chance or completely ignored. Probate matters, guardianship, and finances are just a few of the things that can be handled through online mediation.

Involve the whole family

There was a time when entire families were born and died in the same town for generations. Today, though, families are scattered throughout the country and across the world. But distance should not be a reason that a loved one isn’t included in the decision making process. Online mediation is an ideal way of ensuring that all the family members who need or want a say in how a relative is cared for can be involved.

Online mediation allows you to schedule mediation that’s convenient for everyone and doesn’t require anyone to travel. It can also be helpful if you have small children and no childcare available. It can also provide a buffer if one or more parties doesn’t get along well.

Online mediation isn’t just for couples splitting up custody and property. Mediation allows entire families to have a respectful discussion and take action to care for a loved one. It allows you to make life-altering decisions without destroying the fabric of your family. Contact us today to schedule your online mediation appointment.