West Michigan Certified Divorce Mediation Lawyers
The relationship with your partner does not end after a divorce or separation. Whether through life experiences, spousal support (alimony), and/or children, you may need to keep contact with that person throughout your life. Mediation can help foster a positive relationship by providing a resource for open discussion and cooperation when making important family decisions.
At Dykema Law Offices, P.C., we believe that family law mediation is an excellent way to resolve disputes. Going to court is costly and time-consuming. Because of their adversarial nature, court appearances and trials can increase the hostility between the two parties and put children under added stress. With mediation, you can have an amicable divorce and avoid the expense and anxiety associated with litigation.
Attorneys Jayne Dykema and Lori Zellers are both certified mediators. As mediators, they will act as a neutral parties, encouraging you and your partner to work out mutually-acceptable agreements that are beneficial to everyone involved. You can also hire either of them as your attorney to assist and advise you through the mediation process. Contact us to learn more about the process of divorce mediation.
When is Mediation Used?
We can use mediation to resolve almost any divorce or post divorce dispute, including those involving:
- Property division
- Child support guidelines
- Child custody
- Parenting plans or visitation rights
- Spousal support (alimony)
- Budget plans
In addition, we can use mediation to assist couples who are not yet divorcing but are just seeking a legal separation. Mediation can be a valuable tool to help the parties finalize issues before drafting an official separation agreement or to resolve issues that arise after the divorce is final.
Children and Divorce Mediation
Too often, children become pawns in divorce battles. Angry parents may use child custody and parenting plans as a tool to express their frustration with the other party. With mediation, a child's best interests are always taken into consideration. It reduces stress on everyone involved and allows for cooperation between the parties.
If you want to resolve your divorce without the stress and hardship of court, contact the certified mediators at Dykema Law Offices, P.C. Although it may not always be possible, we take steps to encourage the two parties to be on decent terms when the divorce or separation is final.