Posted on March 22, 2022 in Divorce Mediation

Divorce is often depicted in television and film as dramatic and overtly aggressive. However, divorce does not have to be like this. Many people are able to walk away from their marriage without resorting to hostility. Some ex-spouses are even able to remain friends after the split. If you are ready to get divorced but you want to minimize the tension and drama involved in many divorce cases, the following tips may help

Reducing Misunderstandings, Resentment, and Turbulence in Your Divorce Case

Just as there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, there is no such thing as a perfect divorce. Every divorce case will have some degree of tension or discomfort. However, there are practical steps you can take to mitigate the tension, including:  

• Prepare in advance. – The sooner you start preparing for the divorce process, the better. Organize your financial documents and make several copies for you and your spouse. Inventory your assets and debts. Start considering how you plan to handle child custody, property division, and other divorce issues now so you are better prepared and less frazzled when you negotiate the terms of your divorce.

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 Posted on March 13, 2022 in Divorce Mediation

Married spouses who choose to divorce must address multiple issues. Most married spouses have built a life together. They may share financial assets like bank accounts and vehicles and have children together. They may need to address spousal support or alimony and other special issues.

If you are getting divorced, you should know that divorce does not have to be antagonistic and hostile. You and your spouse may be able to negotiate the terms of your divorce in a collaborative, non-adversarial way through mediation. A skilled mediator may be able to help you reach agreements about some or all of your divorce issues outside of the courtroom. If you are considering mediation, you may have questions about what the mediation process will look like and how long it will take.

Resolving Divorce Matters Through Mediation in Texas

Mediation is an alternative resolution method that countless divorcing spouses have utilized in Texas and throughout the U.S. For many couples, mediation allows them to figure out the details of their divorce without the courtroom stress and drama associated with contested divorce cases.

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 Posted on February 25, 2022 in Property Division

In a marriage, “mine” and “yours” often become “ours.” Disentangling one spouse’s property and debts from the other spouse’s property and debts during divorce can be quite complicated. This is especially true if the spouses disagree about who should keep what. Fortunately, disagreements about the division of marital assets in a divorce do not destine a couple for divorce court. Many couples are able to negotiate the terms of their property division settlement during divorce mediation.

Reaching an Agreement on Asset Division Through Mediation

Texas courts follow community property laws when dividing marital property. However, divorcing couples are free to divide their assets as they see fit - without the court’s involvement.

Mediation can help a couple discuss exactly how property should be divided. Understandably, many divorcing spouses struggle to communicate effectively. They may be holding onto old hurts or resentments that make it hard to discuss property division without getting emotional. Many spouses are simply overwhelmed at the sheer number of decisions they must make during the divorce process and are unsure of where to start. This is where a neutral third-party mediator can help. The mediator’s job is to help you discuss property division concerns and make decisions that both spouses agree to. An experienced mediator will know how to break down the process into smaller steps and guide the couple as they explore their options.

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 Posted on February 08, 2022 in Child Custody Mediation

As a parent, breaking up or getting divorced involves much more than financial issues like the division of assets. You must also decide how you and your soon-to-be-ex will handle child custody and parenting responsibilities. Unfortunately, deciding how to divide time with your children can quickly become  a contentious issue. Parents may also disagree on how to raise their children.  Family law mediation can help you and your child’s other parent discuss these issues and work toward a solution. Many parents find that the meditation process saves them time, money, and stress as compared to traditional litigation.

Parental Dating and Romantic Partners

Many divorced parents plan to reenter the dating scene once the divorce is finalized. You and your child’s other parent should discuss how and when a parent may introduce the child to a new romantic partner. You may also want to discuss whether a parent can have a romantic partner spend the night. By addressing these issues early, you may be able to prevent arguments in the future.

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 Posted on January 21, 2022 in Divorce Mediation

Divorcing parents must address multiple issues during divorce, including the division of marital property and debts, child custody, and child support.  Parents who can reach an out-of-court agreement on these issues through mediation can often avoid litigation and the stress that comes with it. Mediation may also help reduce the hostility between you and your spouse – something that children can easily pick up on. Although it is much more common than it used to be, divorce is still hard on children. If you are planning to divorce, family law mediation may benefit you and your children in several ways.

Reducing Conflict When Deciding Divorce Issues

Understandably, divorcing parents often experience intense emotions. They may find it difficult to discuss divorce issues like child custody or asset division calmly and rationally. During the mediation process, divorcing spouses work with a mediator skilled in conflict resolution and negotiation methods. He or she can help parents find common ground and discuss the unresolved issues in a productive manner.

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 Posted on January 07, 2022 in Divorce Mediation

The decision to split from your spouse is not one that anyone makes easily. Many times, divorcing spouses still care about each other greatly. They simply realize that they are no longer compatible as a married couple. If you have found yourself in this situation, you may be seeking ways to resolve your divorce without an antagonistic court battle. Fortunately, there are many options for divorcing spouses in Texas. Divorce mediation involves meeting with a neutral mediator who will help you discuss divorce issues and reach solutions. Read on to learn about the types of conflict resolution strategies mediators may use to help you end your marriage amicably.

Focusing on Solutions Instead of Winning or Losing

Depending on your particular situation, you and your spouse may need to address the division of marital property and debts, child custody, spousal support, and several other issues during divorce. Unfortunately, many divorce cases become focused on “getting even” with the other spouse instead of resolving divorce issues. The goal of mediation is to find feasible solutions to divorce issues instead of “winning” the divorce. A mediator may remind spouses of this fact and keep them focused on the end goal throughout the mediation process.  

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 Posted on December 23, 2021 in Divorce

If you are like most people, divorce is probably something that you never expected to live through. When you got married, you planned for it to be “till death do us part.” Unfortunately, many marriages do not work out this way, and if you have encountered relationship issues that cannot be resolved, it may be the best choice for everyone involved to end your marriage so that you and your spouse can both move on to a better life. Even if you were unable to make your marriage work, you may be able to complete your divorce more quickly and easily by using mediation. However, you will want to be prepared to address the issues that may arise during this process. By understanding some common sources of conflict, you can be prepared to approach these matters the right way and reach agreements that will benefit both you and your spouse.

Addressing Disputed Issues During Mediation

Your goal during mediation will be to create a divorce settlement that can be entered in court. You and your spouse will both need to fully agree on the terms of your settlement. As you work to reach agreements, some areas that may lead to disputes may include:

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 Posted on December 08, 2021 in Divorce Mediation

When married spouses or unmarried couples become involved in legal disputes, these matters can often be complex and difficult to resolve. During a divorce or a case in which parents disagree about how they will share child custody, the parties will need to address multiple types of legal and practical issues, and they may struggle to reach agreements. However, taking these disputes to court and resolving them through a trial can be very expensive for both parties, and the process can take multiple months, or it may even last more than a year. To resolve these matters more quickly and efficiently, a couple may be required to use mediation.

Court-Ordered Mediation

In many cases, mediation is voluntary, and a couple will choose to work together with a mediator to gain a full understanding of the issues they need to resolve and reach agreements on how these matters should be handled. However, there may also be cases where a family court judge will order a couple to use mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement prior to holding a trial.

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 Posted on November 19, 2021 in Divorce Mediation

If you are planning to get a divorce, you and your spouse will need to resolve many different issues related to your finances, the property you own, and your ongoing needs. If you have children, the divorce process may become even more complex, and you will need to address multiple types of issues related to child custody. In many cases, divorce mediation offers the best way to resolve disagreements and create a settlement that will provide for the needs of both you and your spouse. During the mediation process, you will need to understand how to address child support for your children.

Texas Child Support Laws

Child support obligations will depend on the decisions made about the physical custody of children. When children live with one parent for the majority of the time, that parent will usually receive child support payments from the other parent. To calculate child support, the net resources of the obligor parent will be determined, and a certain percentage will be applied to this amount based on the number of children that a parent will be supporting.

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 Posted on November 10, 2021 in Child Custody Mediation

If you are a parent who has chosen to end your relationship with your partner, you will need to make multiple types of decisions about how the two of you will handle child-related issues going forward. Whether you are going through a divorce or ending a relationship as unmarried partners, you will need to address how you will work together to make decisions about how your children will be raised, the amount of time that children will spend with each parent, and multiple other concerns about how you can provide for your children’s ongoing needs. Child custody mediation can be a great way to reach agreements on these matters while minimizing conflict and ensuring that you will both be on the same page about issues related to your children.

Tips for Success in Child Custody Mediation

During mediation, you will work together with the other parent to make decisions about how you will share custody of your children. A neutral mediator will help you identify the issues that will need to be resolved and provide you with guidance on how you can reach agreements regarding these matters. Ideally, you will be able to create an agreement that will allow you to cooperate with each other to provide for your children’s ongoing needs. You can do so by following these tips:

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