2015 - Weinberger Mediation Center

Divorce Mediation Up Close and Personal: Part IX – Derek and Stacey Recap

Since the beginning of 2015, we have been following one couple, Derek and Stacey, through the divorce mediation process. As the year comes to a close, they are wrapping things up. They have worked out a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) and will soon receive their final judgment of divorce. Thanks to a positive and productive mediation experience, both Stacey and Derek are satisfied with their settlement terms. They are functioning amicably in their new relationship as single co-parents, their children are thriving, and they are both looking forward to bright new futures. Read more

Divorce Mediation up Close and Personal: Part VIII—Derek and Stacey Calculate New Jersey Shared Parenting Child Support

When we last saw Derek and Stacey, in Part VII of “Up Close and Personal” they were wrapping up their third mediation session. They had made great progress working out their property division and deciding how to handle child custody, but they still needed to deal with child support, and possibly alimony. Read more

Divorce Mediation up Close and Personal – Derek and Stacey, Part VII

In Part VI of “Up Close and Personal,” our divorce mediation case study series, we watched Derek and Stacey reach several major decisions regarding distribution of their marital property and debts. As we rejoin them, they are returning to their third mediation session after a break. During the break they reviewed some charts that their mediator, Ms. Smith, made up to illustrate the property division. She asks if they have any questions. Let’s see what happens next… Read more

Divorce Mediation Up Close and Personal: Derek and Stacey Case Study, Part VI

When we last saw Derek and Stacey in installment No. V of our ongoing divorce mediation series, they were in the middle of their third mediation session. They had completed an accounting of their assets and debts and worked out values for both the family home and Derek’s accounting business. They had also reached agreement regarding how to divide the home value into separate and marital property. When they reached a discussion of their debts, however, things became tense. Let’s rejoin them after their 15 minute break, and see if they can reestablish the amicable tone they achieved earlier in the session. Read more

Divorce Mediation up Close and Personal: Derek and Stacey Case Study, Part V

Couple meeting with divorce mediator

In the last installment of our continuing mediation case study series, Derek and Stacey completed their second divorce mediation session. There were a few tense moments, but with the help of their mediator, Ms. Smith, they were able to establish a temporary parenting schedule for their children. They arrive at mediation session number three ready to examine their assets and debts. After this they plan to look at their individual incomes and expenses going forward, and consider the impact of the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines.
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What is a Mediation “Caucus”?

Meeting room with label "Meeting in progress"

In installment IV of our ongoing mediation case study, we saw Derek and Stacey participate in a “caucus” when their child custody discussion became heated. If you are considering mediation in your own divorce case, you might be wondering exactly what a caucus is, and when it is most likely to be appropriate in mediation. Read more

Divorce Mediation Up Close and Personal – Derek and Stacey, Part IV

Two Parents Fighting Over Child In Divorce Concept In our last installment of our continuing mediation case study, we left Derek and Stacey in the middle of their second divorce mediation session. They had planned to make child custody the major focus of the session but were derailed early on by a tense discussion concerning the family home. Let’s see if they are able to get back on track after that and address their parenting issues. Read more

Setting Ground Rules in Divorce Mediation

One thing people wonder about a lot when it comes to divorce mediation is what actually happens during the sessions. Here at the Weinberger Mediation Center, we’ve been giving you an inside picture with our ongoing series about Stacey and Derek, a divorcing couple going through mediation. To help you gain an even better understanding of what happens in mediation, we’re going to pause from their story now and then to take a closer look at certain aspects of the process. For example, we saw that in their first session, the mediator made an introductory statement that included a review of the mediation “ground rules.”

So what exactly are ground rules, and why do they exist? Read more

Divorce Mediation up Close and Personal – Derek and Stacey, Part III

In our first installment we discussed the events leading up to Derek and Stacey’s decision to participate in divorce mediation. In the second installment, we looked in on their first session. Now let’s see how things are working out for them during session number two. Read more

Divorce Mediation up Close and Personal – Derek and Stacey, Part II

In our first installment we saw how Derek and Stacey came to the tough decision to divorce and also how they ended up choosing divorce mediation. In the next few installments we’ll watch their story unfold as they move through the mediation process. Read more