Why Mediate?
Parties can mediate issues whether or not the matter is pending before the Court and without counsel present. Attending and settling in mediation cuts months if not years off your case. Being in the same room for mediation is not required.
Cost and time savings:
The cost of attending mediation is significantly less than hiring independent counsel, and proceeding to a hearing before the court. Often, parties attend mediation without consulting or retaining counsel, saving both time and money.
Rapid Address of Issues:
The parties can mediate issues whether or not the matter is pending before the Court and without counsel present. Attending and settling in mediation cuts months if not years off your case. Being in the same room for mediation is not required. Mediation can also take place over Skype or via telephone. Currently, the courts in Colorado are short on judges and magistrates. As of this writing, Jefferson County alone is down six judges, and several magistrates. The courts are not able to resolve cases rapidly, or necessarily give the parties the time they need to successfully and fully litigate the matter. Also, many of the judges are not versed in family law, which may result in further litigation or appeals.
Stability:
Mediated agreements are known to the parties at the time of settlement (unlike the outcome of a Court hearing), and studies show that parties who reach a mediated settlement are much more likely to live up to the agreement, as opposed to an Order entered by the Court. Reaching a compromise the parties live with is better than having an Order in place that will not work. Mediation will give you a say in the final agreement. The Court will enter an Order based on their perception of what is best.
Flexibility:
Mediation is much more flexible than litigation. It allows the parties to discuss issues the Court cannot or will not address, and allows the parties to reach agreements that the Court may be unwilling or unable to Order. We can work around statutory and case law while the Court cannot.
Less Stressful:
Mediation is far less stressful than going to Court, and can allow the parties to learn that they can still work together for the mutual benefit of their family or children. It is imperative to have the parties work together when they are dealing with their children, as they will be doing so for years to come.
Lower the Conflict:
Mediation can restore trust between the parties, and lower the level of anxiety associated with the unresolved conflict, which has often built up over time. Resolving issues allows parties to get on with lives. Usually, when parties reach agreements on difficult issues, it gives them strategies and confidence to continue addressing issues outside of the court system. The court system has the opposite effect on litigants, i.e., it either complicates the parties ability to work together or harms their ability to trust one another for years to come, which leads to higher conflict. Conflict is not good for the parties but is especially deleterious to children, who frequently find themselves caught in the middle of their parents’ disagreements.
Parties can mediate issues whether or not the matter is pending before the Court and without counsel present. Attending and settling in mediation cuts months if not years off your case. Being in the same room for mediation is not required.
Cost and time savings:
The cost of attending mediation is significantly less than hiring independent counsel, and proceeding to a hearing before the court. Often, parties attend mediation without consulting or retaining counsel, saving both time and money.
Rapid Address of Issues:
The parties can mediate issues whether or not the matter is pending before the Court and without counsel present. Attending and settling in mediation cuts months if not years off your case. Being in the same room for mediation is not required. Mediation can also take place over Skype or via telephone. Currently, the courts in Colorado are short on judges and magistrates. As of this writing, Jefferson County alone is down six judges, and several magistrates. The courts are not able to resolve cases rapidly, or necessarily give the parties the time they need to successfully and fully litigate the matter. Also, many of the judges are not versed in family law, which may result in further litigation or appeals.
Stability:
Mediated agreements are known to the parties at the time of settlement (unlike the outcome of a Court hearing), and studies show that parties who reach a mediated settlement are much more likely to live up to the agreement, as opposed to an Order entered by the Court. Reaching a compromise the parties live with is better than having an Order in place that will not work. Mediation will give you a say in the final agreement. The Court will enter an Order based on their perception of what is best.
Flexibility:
Mediation is much more flexible than litigation. It allows the parties to discuss issues the Court cannot or will not address, and allows the parties to reach agreements that the Court may be unwilling or unable to Order. We can work around statutory and case law while the Court cannot.
Less Stressful:
Mediation is far less stressful than going to Court, and can allow the parties to learn that they can still work together for the mutual benefit of their family or children. It is imperative to have the parties work together when they are dealing with their children, as they will be doing so for years to come.
Lower the Conflict:
Mediation can restore trust between the parties, and lower the level of anxiety associated with the unresolved conflict, which has often built up over time. Resolving issues allows parties to get on with lives. Usually, when parties reach agreements on difficult issues, it gives them strategies and confidence to continue addressing issues outside of the court system. The court system has the opposite effect on litigants, i.e., it either complicates the parties ability to work together or harms their ability to trust one another for years to come, which leads to higher conflict. Conflict is not good for the parties but is especially deleterious to children, who frequently find themselves caught in the middle of their parents’ disagreements.
Seeking an easier path forward?
Effective Conflict Resolution
Seeking an easier path forward?
Effective Conflict Resolution
