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Providing you with experts in all aspects (Legal, Financial, and Mental Health Considerations) of mediation. Discover the benefits and value through a comprehensive team approach to mediation.
Mediation is an effective tool for resolving conflicts, including divorce, outside of the standard litigation system. This approach can offer positive cost-effective alternatives to dispute resolution in a number of areas such as divorce, child custody, child support, or other family law issues. The mediation lawyers at McConnell Family Law Group can help you reach an amicable settlement to your dispute.
Divorce mediation allows both parties to identify, negotiate and resolve the issues raised by the decision to divorce. The mediator establishes firm ground rules and a comfortable environment so that emotionally charged issues can be discussed. The mediator helps both spouses gather necessary information and review it systematically. A mediator often helps formulate a more creative solution than the court could offer. When parenting agreements and financial distribution plans are made by the spouses themselves, there is a better chance of meeting the needs of the entire family.
Mediated divorces typically take less time and have a higher rate of long-range parental cooperation and fewer costs associated with multiple return visits to court. The mediator remains neutral between the husband and the wife. Importantly, the mediator cannot give advice to either party, and also cannot act as a lawyer for either party; however, the mediator may provide information about the legal system, how issues may be viewed by lawyers or judges, and what alternatives there are for solving issues. The mediator can point out in open session to both spouses things that they both need to consider in the decision-making process. That exchange of information frees up both spouses to negotiate with each other in confidence. When necessary, the mediator will refer the couple to third-party experts for services such as appraisals. The MFLG maintains a Firm-100 list of referral sources in order to meet the demands of mediated and litigated divorces.
The best mediation client is an informed and educated client. Because knowledge is golden, a good divorce mediator strongly encourages a mediation client to meet with an independent attorney to provide each spouse with independent legal advice and the knowledge necessary to make long-lasting, educated, informed decisions.
Some spouses may choose to meet with their reviewing attorney at the end of the mediation process so they can look over all the financial documents prepared in mediation and the draft separation agreement. Some spouses go to a review at attorney only once at the beginning of the process, others go to an independent attorney a the beginning and end of mediation, and others don’t go at all.
An independent reviewing attorney charges by the hour and the cost should not be more than one to three total hours of his or her hourly rate.
If you use a mediator who is also an attorney, they can help you file all the court paperwork which can include:
Often a state marshal or sheriff does not need to be used to serve the divorce papers if a waiver of service is signed by the defendant in the presence of a divorce mediation who is also an attorney. In Connecticut, the divorce mediator frequently attends the final hearing and assists the couple at this appearance. The mediator will be the person who will canvas the spouses about the agreements reached rather than the Judge.
How long a mediated divorce takes depends on the complexity of the issues and ability of the individuals to be flexible as they negotiate a fair agreement. The average mediated divorce case takes approximately four to five sessions (1-2 hours each) spread out over 3 or 4 months. More complex cases can take up to 6 months to complete.
No case is too complicated to be settled using mediation. If your case is complex, we might engage outside experts such as; an accountant, appraiser, financial planner, or certified financial analyst to clarify issues and provide various options. Experienced family mediators have numerous skills, tools, and resources to help couples reach decisions. Couples who are committed to staying out of litigation and avoiding draining their joint savings will reach workable and equitable agreements. The role of a well-trained, mature, intelligent, professional mediator is to facilitate and guide spouses through the most painful and complex chapter of their life. If you reach an impasse, you did not fail. The mediator’s job is to reduce the fear, to educate, empower, and provide you with creative solutions to get through any impasses and help guide you beyond the finish line.
It is fairly rare to agree on all but one or two issues, but even if that is the case, mediation is seldom wasted. An agreement can be prepared on all settled issues, and the parties can either litigate the remaining issues or take further time to think about and come back to mediation. A well-trained neutral mediation lawyer will teach you about free “safety net options” existing within your jurisdiction that are available to help settle your case BEFORE you consider litigating your case.
If you are considering mediation as a means to resolving your dispute, contact McConnell Family Law Group today for a consultation. Our offices are located in Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
A mediator is a neutral party specially trained to help couples resolve the issues in their divorce. The mediator facilitates the communication between the parties by making sure each party is given an uninterrupted time to speak, asking a party to restate or explain a point when necessary, and asking questions to make communication clear. The mediator also provides information about the legal system, how issues may be viewed by lawyers or judges, and what alternatives there are for solving issues. When necessary, the mediator will refer the couple to a third party expert for services such as appraisals.
How long a mediated divorce takes depends on the complexity of the issues and the ability of the individuals to be flexible as they negotiate a fair agreement. The average mediated divorce case takes at least four to five sessions (2-3 hours each) spread out over 3 to 4 months. More complex cases can take up to 6 months to complete.
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Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Please be advised that the results achieved in any given case depend upon the exact facts and circumstances of that case. McConnell Family Law Group cannot guarantee a specific result in any legal matter. Any testimonial or case result listed on this site is based on an actual legal case and represents the results achieved in that particular case, and does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction of the outcome of any other legal matter.
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