Family mediation
Separation and divorce
Often, the desire to separate or divorce peacefully is strong. Both partners wish to avoid an escalation with lawyers in court. However, discussions about arrangements always end in arguments. The situation is complicated because everything is intertwined – child care, where to live, finances. The situation is burdensome, and it is not uncommon for fears to arise regarding the future ability to fulfill parental responsibilities, finding a new place to live, and existential fears. The two parties’ views often differ widely. The same applies to their expectations of how a court would decide the case.
They need the help of a neutral third party. Mediation provides a setting and support in which both partners can express their concerns and wishes, and discussions can be more fruitful than at home.
When couples separate, their children are deeply affected. In such a phase of dramatic change, they actually would need (extra) caring parents. If the parents manage to stay in good contact with each other, the children will benefit in particular. If (ex)couples manage to find solutions together in spite of everything, everyone will benefit. Mediation aims to make this possible. It can help ease stressful situations and strengthen the parents’ focus on finding solutions.
Possible goals
- Immediate arrangements for a separation situation
- Separation agreement
- Divorce agreement
- Improving communication, strengthening the parental level
- Re-adjustment in the event of conflicts in the execution of a childcare arrangement
Possible schedule
- Non-binding initial telephone call
- First meeting to get to know each other, explain the basic rules of mediation, assess the situation, estimate the time and
- costs
- Subsequent meetings, also in combination with “homework”
- Before signing an agreement: option to have it externally reviewed
- Signing of agreement
- Review of implementation