Preparing For a Divorce Mediation

Preparing For a Divorce Mediation

Divorce Mediation Preparation

Guiding New Jersey Clients Through the Medication Process

Mediation is often a great alternative to courtroom litigation, especially when it comes to divorce. However, that doesn’t mean that mediation is necessarily easy, and a successful mediation process requires many different things, both from its participants as well as from the divorce mediator themselves.

Thorough preparation for mediation allows your mediator to have all the information he or she needs for a productive session. It is important to come with the pertinent documentation covering finances, childcare, legal matters, owned property, and insurance. It is equally important to mentally and emotionally prepare for the mediation process. Our clients find that working together with the mediator and all parties involved leads to a more beneficial outcome.

At Townsend Tomaio & Newmark, our team of attorneys has over 75 years of combined experience helping clients across Fort Lee, Paramus, Hackensack Ridgewood, Teaneck, and the greater Bergen County area resolve divorce-related disputes through a variety of means, including divorce mediation. One of our partners, Laurie L. Newmark, served as a panelist for the Morris County and Passaic County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel Mediation Programs. Additionally, many of our family lawyers have undertaken training to become qualified mediators by the Superior Court of New Jersey. Avoiding unnecessary litigation for our clients is something we take very seriously.

Call our office to discuss your individual needs and concerns when it comes to your divorce mediation in a free and confidential consultation with our legal team today.

Collaborative Family Attorneys Prepare Paperwork

From a nuts and bolts perspective, document preparation is paramount for the mediation process. Many of our clients find it beneficial to begin by making a master list of assets held by you and your spouse. It is best to be overly inclusive in this list even if you are not certain an item is worth mentioning. Once you are satisfied that your major possessions are accounted for, collecting the associated paperwork will show your mediator the details he or she will need to provide the best solutions. Examples are:

Property and Asset Ownership Documents – Deeds for owned properties, mortgages or other loans/debts, rental agreements, receipts or insurance coverage for jewelry, vehicles, art, and anything that may hold substantial monetary or sentimental value

Financial Documents – Checking account statements, savings account statements, retirement account statements, pay stubs from employers, W2s, trust funds, debts, investments

Relevant Legal Agreements – Prenuptial or post-nuptial agreements, police reports, wills, powers of attorney, restraining orders

Childcare Documents – This can include anything relevant to the life of your child or children ranging from basic information such as age and relatives living in the area to pre-existing medical conditions. Again, be as specific as possible and your mediator will use what is needed.

Mediators Help You Define Goals

Trying to keep your priorities straight while going through a messy divorce can feel like spinning plates. Setting concrete and manageable goals before entering the mediation phase can be the perfect way to keep your focus on what matters most. This may begin by asking yourself a series of questions.

If you have children, what is in their best interest?

What conditions must be met to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle, and which conditions are merely preferences?

Are any of your possessions of particular value to you that is worth noting?

What would be an ideal outcome, keeping in mind the viewpoint of both you and your spouse?

The Importance of Maintaining a Positive Outlook

If you are already choosing to work with our Bergen County mediation attorneys, it stands to reason that you are willing to compromise and work with your spouse to reach a reasonable agreement. Litigation lends itself towards an attitude of trying to “win”. The issue then becomes that where there are winners, there are also losers.

The power of mediation and collaborative conflict resolution is in understanding and appreciating the needs of all parties involved and working together towards a common goal. It may be difficult to see yourself working together during the divorce process, but our mediators have found that it is oftentimes the most productive course of action.

Approached with a positive mindset, mediation can be the fastest, most mutually beneficial, and even the least expensive route to take towards an amicable divorce agreement. New Jersey courts especially commend litigants who can take this cooperative approach, particular those clients who are also parents.

Contact our Bergen County, NJ Divorce Mediators Today

At Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, our goal is to provide the most positive experience for you and your family, not to prolong an already stressful process for our financial benefit. Mediation can be the perfect tool for you and your family to move forward together when going through a difficult divorce. We offer both mediation and legal counsel services to families in need.

Our team of experienced New Jersey mediators believes in working with our clients individually, and keeping you as informed and involved as possible so that we may provide the best possible outcome. We will be there throughout the process to outline all possibilities and determine which path is best for you.

To speak with our mediation and collaborative law team today in a free and confidential consultation regarding your divorce please contact us online or through our Hackensack, NJ office at (201) 397-1750.

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