How Can Mediation Be Used In Family Law?

If you are dealing with a family law type of situation, then you might assume that you need to hire an attorney to help you with your case. It's true that some family law cases are best handled with the help of an attorney. However, mediation -- which involves working with a third-party, neutral mediator and the other person or people who are involved in your case -- can sometimes work out well in family law cases. These are a few examples of ways that mediation can be used in the world of family law.

Determining Custody and Visitation

Matters of child custody and visitation can be complicated, and they are also very important. If you and your child's other parent need to work out a custody plan and visitation schedule, then you might be wondering if mediation will be right for you. This depends on whether or not you think you and your child's other parent will be able to sit down and work things out with the help of a mediator. If you think you can, this can be an affordable and effective way of working out a custody and visitation plan that will work well for everyone, including the children who are involved in the situation.

In some cases, mediation can be used for custody or visitation cases that involve individuals other than the child's parents. For example, if you are the parent, you might have been contacted by the child's grandparents, who might be interested in having visitation with the child. Mediation can often work well in these situations, too.

Going Through a Separation

If you and your spouse are going to be separating soon, you will probably want to get some legal documentation of your separation. Additionally, you will need to work out a few things, such as who will live in the marital home during the separation. Mediation can be a good way to get your legal separation off to a good start.

Going Through a Divorce

Not only can you use mediation to work out the details of a legal separation, but you can also use mediation as a means of getting a divorce. Some people worry about taking this route because they have a lot to lose in their divorce. If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have an overall amicable relationship, if there aren't a lot of assets involved in your divorce, and if you think you can work things out with the help of a mediator, you might find that you can save a lot of time, hassle, and money by opting for mediation.

Contact someone who mediates family law cases to learn more.