Divorce in California and around the country can be a very daunting and lengthy process. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that constant communication is active between yourself and your ex-spouse. One of the most common ways to shorten the length of the divorce process that involves children is to bring on a child custody mediator. A meditator acts as a third neutral member of the discussion. You will discuss agreements regarding your child and ultimately come to an agreement. However, there are a few things you should know before entering into these discussions.
The request
Before you accept your ex-spouse’s request to work with a meditator, you must be certain that this is the right move for you. Maybe you rather discuss these situations on your own, thus removing the need for a custody mediation. It should be noted that some judges will require ex-couples to go this route.
Documentation
Anything can happen during a divorce, and therefore it is important to document everything that occurs during this time. If you accept your ex-spouse’s request to meet up with a mediator, make sure you accept it by writing them a letter. In the event that you have to go to court, you will then have documentation proving that you were cooperating.
What occurs at a mediation?
It can be a little stressful waiting for your mediation, but you really shouldn’t be. The process is very straightforward, with the mediator asking both parties to present their demands. The discussion may take between two or three hours, depending on the number of things you agree on. If you accept all requests, in the end, your mediator will help you develop a formal written agreement.
As you can tell from the information above, there are many moving parts other than child custody. Obtaining an attorney to walk you through the process may be the best choice you can make in order to reach a favorable end result.