Is Divorce Mediation For Me?
Do you and your spouse want to avoid court hearings and costly trials? Do you feel that for the most part, you are able to work together to finalize the details of your divorce?
If yes, JFCC will serve as a neutral, third-party mediator or in the capacity of a financial neutral (ask us the difference in your phone consultation) to help you negotiate common divorce-related issues like:
-property division
-child custody and visitation
-child support, and
-alimony or spousal support
Mediation works when both parties are willing to negotiate. JFCC financial and accounting expertise or professional mediation services will help you and your spouse reach a mutual agreement. When JFCC serves as your mediator, your final product will be your jointly negotiated Memorandum of Understanding. Mediation saves you time and the costly fess which may be incurred during a prolonged court battle.
What is Collaborative Practice? When Would This Be My Best Option?
Collaborative Practice is an alternative dispute resolution model where a team of experts help parties remain "interest-focused" during their negotiations, under the guidance of a legal contract. This is best when both parties are still hoping to avoid litigation, but need additional support from attorneys, financial neutrals, and mental health professionals to help finalize an agreement.
You and your divorce attorneys work as a team with mental health professionals and financial experts like JFCC to help you negotiate your divorce settlement using Guidelines for Effective Communication and other process-specific techniques that will lay the foundation for your future post-divorce interaction - such as in an instance where you may be co-parenting young children (or even sharing in the life events of adult children).
How long this process takes depends on many factors, including the preparedness of both parties, their willingness to work toward a solution and the complexity of the issues to be decided. When complete, the agreement is signed by both parties and filed with the court.
This process offers more control to you and your spouse as you negotiate alimony, child support, and the division of assets while providing you the financial information, legal considerations, and emotional support needed in a transparent manner to help you make your decision.
When is Litigation the Better Option?
When you and your spouse cannot agree, a judge may need to decide for you.
In protracted negotiations, there can come a point of frustration where neither party can reason or offer any kind of compromise to finalize a settlement.
In these cases, JFCC will serve as a financial expert for our client and their attorney, addressing all the typical issues considered in divorce, but doing so as a consultant and potential expert witness in a court proceeding.