FAMILY MEDIATION

INTRODUCTION

"Well this is gonna be one short session, because we're not gonna get anywhere."

Three out of every ten parenting time cases starts with one parent asserting something which sounds like the above quote. I am the primary mediator for the Family Mediation Center, which accepts referrals for parenting time (visitation) mediation from the Superior Court of New Jersey Cumberland County Family Part in Divorce cases. The process is mandatory, so often clients come to the mediation session with a negative attitude. More than 9 out of 10 cases ends in an agreement between the parents which is incorporated in a Court Order. For $100.00 per parent, the parents save themselves potentially thousands of dollars in legal fees.

The traditional divorce is an adversarial process. Neither side wants to give in, neither side wants to appear vulnerable, neither side is willing to make concessions. Surprisingly, with an attorney and with the two parents sitting at the same table, talking about one thing - their kids, we can make a lot of progress. Custody and parenting time, although less involved than divorce mediation, is often very complicated and emotionally charged.