DivorceandFamilyMediationCenter.com

Modification Of The Agreement

  During the mediation couples will often ask: “What happens if we want to change something in our Agreement once the divorce judgment has been signed – how do we do that?” This is a great question. After all, although the Agreement is somewhat static, life is fluid and circumstances change.

One of the provisions many couples include in their original Agreement is to return to mediation together to resolve these issues. This is a lot less costly than trying to litigate and attempt to resolve in court. After all, they worked things out together in mediation, why not continue in that process if there is a need to modify the Agreement in the future?

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The Post Separated, Single Parent . . . Couple

Part II

  When crafting a parenting plan, the most important consideration is that the children have as much access to both parents as possible. Research strongly suggests that children who are co-parented by loving, involved and cooperative parents are significantly impacted in a more positive way in both the short and long term. They become happier, more confident, and well adjusted adults. This just makes sense. Read the rest of this entry »

A Tale of Two Families (Or – do I have to divorce my ex’s family too)?

 How often do we hear the lament of the grandparents who now have limited access to their grandchildren as a result of their own children’s vitriolic divorce? What about the nieces and nephews who once had a close relationship with their aunts and uncles? Clearly, a couple’s separation can affect more than just the parties themselves and their own children.

 One of the beautiful things about choosing to mediate instead of litigating your separation is that it allows you to create the possibility of expanding your options rather than limiting them. In a mediated setting, you and your spouse can craft an agreement that benefits both the immediate family as well as the extended family.

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Parenting Plans

One of the most important issues that parents work on together in Mediation is a post-separation parenting plan. Regardless of which type of custody arrangement they choose, most do agree on joint custody which means joint decision making on all the important issues for the children. These include but are not limited to the children’s education, religious instruction, extracurricular activities, their health and well-being.

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What about the Children?

Though some people can’t imagine it, life does go on after a separation or divorce.   Once the agreements are made and everything is finalized, there are still some issues which may require attention, and sometimes, ongoing attention.  One of the most important of these has to do with children.  Although you will no longer be husband and wife to one another, you will always be parents to your children. 

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