Wishing you Holiday Hope and Joy

holiday parenting

Once again, we are in the midst of the holiday season. As we all know, expectations can run high for this to be a joyful time of year. For those facing divorce, however, finding joy can be a challenge. If you feel this way, you are not alone. The hubbub and cheeriness of the season can create a stark contrast to the trauma of family upheaval. Perhaps you are alone during the holidays for the first time in years. Or maybe you have young children at home, but your newly stripped-down budget just cannot accommodate the holiday gifts and activities that they have come to expect. Read more

Mediator Styles: Facilitative, Evaluative, and Transformative

mediator styles

In our last post, we discussed what to look for when choosing a mediator, including the mediator’s education and professional background. We also touched upon the fact that mediators have different personal styles, and that personal fit can be as important as other qualifications. Beyond personal fit, however, there are three distinct approaches that mediators follow. These are “facilitative,” “evaluative” and “transformative.” Today we will look at each of these mediator styles a little more closely. Read more

Choosing the Right Mediator

working with a mediatorThe right mediator can make a big difference in how successful you are in divorce mediation. Whether or not a mediator is a good fit for you depends on several factors. In this post we will look at a few of them. Read more

Back to School: Is Your Parenting Plan Ready?

It may still be the dog days of summer, but if you are a divorced parent, you are probably already thinking about the kids going back to school. For some families, fall is when things get back to normal after a challenging summer schedule. But what if you are concerned that what has been “normal” may not be working for your family anymore? Here are a few ways to make sure your parenting plan is keeping pace with your kids. Read more

Convincing Your Spouse to Try Mediation

Throughout our series on using mediation to avoid divorce court backlogs, we have done a deep dive into many topics. These have included the differences between litigation and mediation; how the mediation process works; and exactly what it takes to be successful in divorce mediation. There is another topic, however, that does not concern the process itself but is nevertheless critical to success. What if you have read all about the mediation process and you are ready to try it, but your spouse is not interested? If this is where you find yourself, the following information may be of help. Read more

Using Experts in Mediation

COVID-19 mediation

In our last post we talked about complex cases in divorce mediation. Today we will discuss using experts in mediation. You can generally use the same types of experts in mediation as in litigation, but there are often ways to make the process more efficient and cost-effective. Read more

Mediating Complex Divorce Cases

In our last post we discussed how most divorcing couples can use mediation successfully. Sometimes though, even spouses who are otherwise well-suited to the process think that their case is too complex. The reality is that complexity is rarely a reason to avoid mediation. In fact, the opposite is often true. Read more

What Does it Take to Succeed in Divorce Mediation?

In our last post we talked about how to wrap up a court case after reaching an agreement in mediation. Today we will look at which divorcing couples can use mediation successfully and which couples should think twice before choosing the process. Read more

How to Conclude a Divorce after Mediation

Many people are uncertain about how to wrap up their divorce after going through the mediation process. Couples who go to mediation can often avoid ever appearing in court. They still, however, must complete all of the basic paperwork required to legally finalize a divorce. Today we will walk through the steps of concluding a New Jersey  divorce after mediation. Read more