Finding Your Way Using Divorce Mediation

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Find Your Way Using Divorce Mediation
When clients begin making decisions regarding ending their marriage, they often feel as if they are entering a deep, dark woods with no path, flashlight, or map.

Many express a wish that they could understand all of the things they need to discuss in order to prepare and not be surprised.

Divorce Mediation Leads the Way

On one hand, knowing everything that needs to be discussed is useful. On the other hand, I caution my clients not to try to figure out everything before we get started. Kitchen table conversations often end up emotional and scary. I encourage clients to think about things but not to negotiate anything. I explain that I am their guide in the woods, and that it is actually more efficient and gentler to let me help them navigate the discussion.

The following is a comprehensive list of items that need to be discussed so that the final Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is thorough and comprehensive. Keep in mind other issues often arise that are not listed here.

Parenting and Schedule

Legal Custody of Children

Child Support

The House

  • Calculating equity
  • How to share the equity
  • Removing names from or keeping names on mortgages and titles
  • Whether to sell the house
  • Funding the house if selling to the other parent
  • Sole occupancy of house
  • When to live separately
  • If someone dies while house is jointly titled and mortgaged

Other Assets

Debts

  • Credit cards
  • Student loans
  • Car loans
  • Bankruptcy
  • Effect of divorce on credit and your credit report
  • Shared or separate liability

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)

Miscellaneous

  • Changing your last name
  • Health insurance for the adults
  • Life insurance: Beneficiary designation, for how long
  • Taxes: Head of household, dependency allowances, and child tax credit
  • Future tax audits and liability
  • Wills, health care proxy and power of attorney updates
  • Religious annulment
  • Resolving future conflicts via changes to the separation agreement
  • Social security

Mediation and Divorce Process

Divorce Is Complicated

Going through it with the guidance of an experienced divorce mediator allows you settle all these issues and more quickly, peacefully, privately, and at lower cost. Contact me for a complimentary initial consultation.


Photo Credit: ©Can Stock Photo


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