Shared Decision Making: How Mediation Can Help in Washington State
One of the major decisions you’ll need to make in your parenting plan if you’re getting divorced or separated involves decision-making itself. While most day-to-day decisions won’t be specifically outlined in your parenting plan, some co-parents choose to specify how major decisions will be made. Non-emergent healthcare decisions, educational decisions, and other decisions including religious […]
Estate Planning, Prenups, and Adoption: Family Mediators in Seattle Offer Support Beyond Divorce
Family mediators help couples and families work through difficult family issues. We often think about family mediators as working with divorced couples, but family mediators can do so much more. They can assist couples who are planning to get married with their prenuptial agreements. A mediator can help a couple discuss sensitive topics and work […]
How to Find a Divorce Mediator in Washington
In this article we’ll explore how to find a divorce mediator in Washington state, explore what requirements (if any) are needed for Washington mediators to become mediators, and help you search for a Washington divorce mediator who can meet your needs. Before you begin the process of finding a divorce mediator, it’s important that you […]
Delving Deeper into Family Mediation in Seattle, Washington
Family mediation is an empowering process where family members work cooperatively to resolve some of the more complex conflicts that can arise in family law. While mediation is facilitated by a family mediator, mediation is a self-directed process, meaning that the individuals involved are always ultimately in the driver’s seat when it comes to decision-making. […]
Divorce Mediation What You Need to Know
In this article we’ll define divorce meditation, discuss the goals of mediation, explore the benefits of hiring a divorce mediator, and discuss how you can find a Seattle, Washington divorce mediator. We’ll look at what the divorce mediation process looks like, and we’ll also discuss situations where you may want to take your divorce to court and not hire a divorce mediator. Finally, we’ll explore the cost of mediation and next steps.
Seattle Collaborative Divorce vs. Mediation
Every couple must ultimately decide how they’ll go about filing for divorce. There are generally three avenues you can take that can result in a successful divorce settlement: Contested Divorce, Collaborative Divorce, and Mediation. Because mediation and collaborative divorce don’t involve litigation, the similarities can result in some confusion about the crucial differences between them.
How Do Washington Courts Determine Maintenance?
Maintenance is what some people commonly know as “alimony” or “spousal support.” Receiving maintenance is not a right and there is no magic formula to determine how much and for how long. Every family is unique, so the Courts have wide discretion to award maintenance as they deem “just” after evaluating the relevant factors that apply to the parties.
Is Family Mediation Right For Me?
Family mediation isn’t just for couples that are considering a divorce. Topics that can be addressed in these sessions can include visitation issues, child support, alimony, property division, elder care, the family’s budget, distribution of inherited property, family business succession, and other family matters.
What is Online Divorce Mediation?
The process of divorce mediation, especially when done online, can seem daunting to clients expecting a more traditional process involving opposing counsel and a day in court. Knowing what to expect and having a more in-depth understanding of the online mediation process can help to create a sense of comfort around the process.
Guide to Family Mediation in Washington State
Mediation is required in most counties for family law cases, so often it’s in your best interest to start with mediation and see if an agreement is possible. People that mediate within the first thirty days of a conflict end up resolving their issues in less time and typically spend less money than those who put it off. Through mediation I’ve seen entire divorces completed without anyone ever setting foot in a courtroom.