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Every marriage faces conflict at some point. When the conflict is so
serious that the husband and wife cannot resolve it themselves,
professional help may be necessary. When couples are contemplating
separation or divorce they often seek to resolve their differences
through the legal system. That has the advantage of eventually
providing a final solution, but it also has some significant
disadvantages for a family.
Litigated divorce cases can easily cost
tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and expenses and can take
years to be finally resolved. Meanwhile, the husband and wife remain
adversaries "fighting for their rights" and the children are often
caught in the middle After the divorce the parents may remain bitter
toward each other, and that has a substantial effect on the children.
It doesn't have to be that way. Even
given their disagreements, most couples who want to separate or
dissolve their marriage desire to do so in a way that will serve their
overall best interests and also the best interests of their children.
The decisions that must be made are often difficult and require
sacrifice, but they need not be adversarial. The couple can work
together, with the help of a trained professional, to restructure
their family in a way that will help them continue to interact with
each other on a civil basis and minimize the effect of the separation
on their children. They make their own decisions rather putting their
fate in the hands of a judge or jury where the outcome is always
uncertain. They retain the right to have their agreement reviewed and
revised by their separate legal and financial advisors before it
becomes binding. Once finalized the agreement can be filed with the
court as part of an uncontested divorce proceeding, a process that is
far less expensive and far less damaging to their continued
relationship than a full court proceeding.
The process for accomplishing that is called mediation. This
Website is designed to explain the process and the issues usually
involved and to introduce a competent and experienced mediator who can
answer your questions.
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