Post-Divorce Mediation: A Collaborative Approach to Dealing With Conflict After Divorce

Posted by: Gerald Maggio

Divorce mediators in Orange County; California Divorce MediatorsFor many families, a divorce settlement is not only the end of one story, but also the beginning of several new ones. Children will get older, lives will change, and new circumstances and opportunities will arise.

With those changes, practical and legal issues will arise. What if a parent wants to move away while the children are still young? What if one of the parties’ financial situation changes substantially?

Change and conflict do not have to create family turmoil and stress. Divorced spouses can plan to collaboratively handle and resolve conflict. Returning to mediation can be a powerful tool in the process of keeping post-divorce life moving forward.

If one or both parents wishes to modify the custody agreement, the return to mediation should be automatic. If they arrive in court without a complete agreement about every aspect of the new arrangement, the court will mandate the parents to see a court-appointed mediator.

Mediation can protect children from emotional damage by providing a collaborative, rather than combative, context for working through disagreement and creating an acceptable arrangement.

Changes in support can also lead a family back to mediation. When employment or financial circumstances change, support issues can arise. Disagreements over money are unpleasant, but spending a lot more money in court fighting over money is worse for everyone — and often needless.

Private divorce mediators are trained to help divorced spouses work through financial arrangements productively. Post-divorce support mediation avoids the long court process and puts the spouses in control of the outcome.

For further information or to schedule a consultation with California Divorce Mediators, please call (949) 553-0911 or visit www.cadivorcemediators.com. California Divorce Mediators is an experienced Divorce Mediation and Family Law firm serving the Orange County and Riverside areas and neighboring counties, serving individuals, couples and families with legal issues including divorce, legal separation, spousal support, child support and child custody issues.

To learn more about the divorce process in California and how mediation can help, please visit our page, “What is Divorce Mediation.”

The Benefits Of A Cohabitation Agreement For Unmarried Couples Are Many

Posted by: Gerald A. Maggio, Esq.

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As cohabitation is on the rise in the United States, many of those who have kids under one roof but remain unmarried often help each other with expenses. Nearly 75 percent of these households keep their assets separate but equally pay for child and household expenditures, noted the PewResearchCenter. A big portion of these households see cohabitating as a step toward marriage.

When each person is contributing to the household and they want to truly make sure each person is doing so fairly and with an eye toward the future, a cohabitation agreement can make sure each person knows their duties and responsibilities.  This type of agreement helps set the future up for success and all the anticipated events that could happen.

A recent study in the journal Family Relations echoed similar findings. Many people do not want to plunge into marriage, but decide to live together. More than 65 percent are worried about divorce and the economic, social, legal, and emotional fallout that can happen with a failed marriage. The study interviewed cohabiting women and men between 18- and 36-years-old.

The study showed a similar percentage desire to marry only once, so cohabiting is a way to test the waters.  They are living like a married couple but without the piece of paper and a ring.

A cohabitation agreement can go beyond just financial duties and child responsibilities.  Many couples use it to state their health care wishes, the division of assets and debts, and wishes for each other.  This can be important in the event of a crisis and there are opposing sides of the family.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact California Divorce Mediators at (949) 553-0911 or visit www.cadivorcemediators.com.

Source:

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec11/SasslerDivorce.html

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/11/22/cohabiting-couples-and-their-money/

To learn more about the divorce process in California and how mediation can help, please visit our page, “What is Divorce Mediation.”