Mediation is often times one of the most productive ways to resolve a child custody dispute. What is a child custody mediation and how can you prepare for one?

Child custody mediation is where both parents, accompanied by their attorneys, meet with a neutral third party (the mediator) who mediates the dispute and discusses all issues related to child custody. The mediation is an organized discussion. The judge does not attend the mediation. However, just because a judge is not present does not mean you should not be prepared for the mediation, and certain forms of conduct may be reported such as bad faith participation and threats of violence. It is beneficial to prepare for mediation and to engage in the process.

If an agreement is reached in mediation it will impact many aspects of your family life. You can prepare for mediation by gathering information beforehand. With the information you’ve gathered, outline the issues that you would like to discuss in mediation. Think critically and creatively on how to solve problems and minimize conflict. The most important thing you can do to prepare is to identify specifically what outcome you want and communicate that to your attorney. You and your attorney need to be on the same page and discuss alternative proposals and outcomes in case your desired outcome is not possible.

A child custody mediation is an effective tool for resolving child custody matters while minimizing the negative impact such disputes can have on your children. If you are interested in learning more about the process, call one of our qualified attorneys.