Counseling/Mediation
We Listen
The first step to resolving any conflict is to listen to both sides. This is a really hard skill, especially when you are right in the middle of an argument. Which is why we practice skilled and compassionate listening in order to respond to every concern with sensitivity and understanding. We take time to get to know you and how we can effectively move forward together.
We Advise
Not all conflict has one ideal solution. Once we understand your unique situation, we advise and collaborate with you to come up with the best possible options you feel good with. There will be big decisions you will need to make, but you are not alone in making them. Our counselors and mediators work to advise effectively and strategically, so together we can start planning for ideal outcomes.
We Advocate
When separation and dissolution of marriage are at the stage of needing to make decisions around things like division of property, child care, and alimony, our mediators will serve as the go-between so you don’t have to. Our team will advocate on your behalf in establishing fair and just outcomes. We will help you negotiate terms and serve to defend you in court. Using our mediators is a win-win decision.
We Take Justice to Heart
Fortwayne Divorce Law understands how trying a divorce can become. We want to help you make the best choices, the right choices for you and the ones you love.
Through our online and in person services, we are committed to help you obtain the outcomes you want and need in order to move forward with your life plans and goals. Ideally, we would like to help you move through a peaceful and rational divorce process. Although this doesn’t always end up being the case, we will give you our very best so you can work towards a healthy, sustainable future.
Our priorities are your priorities.
You Are Not Alone
No matter what your situation, from tension in a marriage to the dissolution of marriage, conflict is rarely easy. Issues like property division, money, and child custody can all be hot button issues that can trigger an overwhelming spectrum of feelings. While separation can be emotionally charged and dizzily complicated, we can provide you with the right resources to make this process a little more manageable. Our counseling and mediation services offer not only expert guidance and advice, but also compassion and sensitivity to your trying situation. We are here to listen, to advise, and to advocate on your behalf.
Our Counseling Services
People often think of counseling before a divorce or separation. But did you know that we have counselors who can assist your family through a divorce as well? Divorce counseling can be highly valuable when discussing issues around communication, intimacy, self-esteem, and how to be the best you can be, for yourself and your children, during a very difficult time. Our counselors work closely with you to help make decisions around how to best move forward in your separation or divorce.
Our Mediation Services
When couples are separating, it can be quite difficult to find questions to answers that will help them make informed decisions about how to move forward in their separation and divorce. There can be a myriad of complex issues surrounding a separation such as: finances, children, and your family’s overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our counselors help you navigate through these complexities with understanding and sensitivity to you and your family’s needs.
What is a Mediator?
A mediator is a neutral third person who can help you and your spouse reach a settlement on a contentious issue or problem, or serve as a middle-man form of communication between two parties who cannot or will not communicate directly. Mediation is a private process held outside of the court room, but can also serve to speak on behalf of the case in front of a judge. They are highly valued in divorce processes to help couples navigate challenging subjects around child custody and visitation rights, child support, alimony, and property division.
Divorce is rarely easy. The process involves two people making some very tough life decisions that can impact their families for generations to come. Divorce mediation and counseling can be an effective way to facilitate a better strategy for a more amicable split from your spouse. These options can also be beneficial in managing the many emotions that surface during this painful process.
There are often no distinguishable victims or villains in a divorce. You need someone who is going to make the best of this tough situation and the struggle that lies ahead of you. Our divorce mediation services here at Fortwayne Divorce Law can be a great option to navigate the muddy waters of a divorce or separating couple.
4 Stages of Mediation
1. The Introductory Stage
In this stage, your mediator will work with you and your spouse to set the tone and foundation for the rest of the process. You will be asked to provide background information about yourself and your marriage. The mediator will then explain the “rules” of mediation and how your sessions will be conducted moving forward. The events in this stage will depend on how well you and your spouse can communicate with each other about the issues at hand. It may be that the mediator will need to meet with each of you separately. All of this information will be used by the mediator to set an agenda that will support an optimal approach towards reaching a mutually accepted agreement.
2. The Framing Stage
In most divorces, there are many issues that need to be examined in order to successfully address the desired outcome of each spouse. During the framing stage, the mediator will ask specific questions of each party involved and relevant issues at hand. Each spouse’s needs and interests will be examined with the overall goal of finding a satisfactory resolution for both parties. There are sure to be some overlapping issues, especially in regards to children. Surprisingly, this overlap can increase the likelihood of finding settlement options! Compromise is expected in this stage of mediation. Neither party should enter into this process expecting an agreement that fully satisfies all of their interests. Be prepared that your framing session could be conducted in multiple or separate sessions. More complicated cases comes with more details to sort out, and reaching an agreement could take some back-and-forth negotiation and time. Don’t expect all your problems to be solved in a day.
3. The Negotiation Stage
Once the mediator has set the foundation for the sessions, and has guided both parties in framing their individual issues and interests more clearly, the negotiation stage can begin. At this time, all involved parties will explore all options and possibilities in order to eventually narrow down what works best and what doesn’t. Compromises and concessions are required, but our goal is to achieve desirable outcomes with as little resistance and greater peace of mind as possible.
4. The Concluding Stage
The final or concluding stage is where all tentative settlement agreements are put into writing and delivered to both parties for review and discussion with their advisers. This document will outline the topics reviewed during the previous stages, and summarize the essential points of discussion. Depending on the issues in the case, as simple or complex as they are, both parties will review the details before they proceed any further. If there is a mutual agreement, they will go ahead and sign the document. This agreement can then be used as a basis for a formal settlement agreement that can be filed in court. This is what is known as an uncontested divorce. Most of our mediators here at Fortwayne Divorce Law are also lawyers themselves, and can be responsible for preparing and filing the formal agreement in the court of law. However, it is strongly urged that both parties maintain a separate lawyer of their own to review the draft agreement on their behalf.