Mediation Services
MEDIATION SERVICES
The Law Office of Elizabeth A. Harling provides professional mediation services to resolve disputes associated with divorce, cohabitation, paternity and other family law issues. Our highly experienced neutral mediators are trained to offer an effective and inexpensive alternative to stressful court litigation. We provide you with important relevant information essential to reach a fair and equitable settlement. Mediation offers clients a confidential setting to establish their own goals and control the decisions that affect the entire family. The structured mediation process allows clients to take an active role in reaching a satisfactory agreement.
ADVANTAGES OF MEDIATION
Mediation has many advantages including the following:
-Minimizes hostility and emotional stress
-Cost effective, courteous and efficient issue resolution
-Focuses on children's needs
-Fair and informative
-Voluntary participation for parties
-Promotes communication and cooperation
-Retains more control of the process
-Maintains confidentiality
-Encourages dignity and respect
-Convenient scheduling
MEDIATION ISSUES
The following are some of the issues that clients often request assistance with in mediation:
-Child custody, parenting time and child activities
-Asset and liability division
-College education costs
-Child support and children's expenses
-Alimony and spousal expenses
-Medical and life insurance coverage
-Uninsured medical and dental expenses
-Tax deductions and consequences
-Cohabitation and paternity agreements
REPRESENTATION
During mediation the mediator is acting as a neutral mediator and is not representing either client as an attorney. The parties can consult with an attorney, tax expert or other professional adviser at any time during the mediation process. We recommend that each party use a separate consulting attorney to review the agreement before signing.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Mediation is confidential pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 233, Section 23c, providing mediator/client privilege. This provides an advantage over traditional divorce proceedings in Probate and Family Court which are open to the public.
FREE MEDIATION CONSULTATION
We offer a free initial consultation at our office if both parties attend. We will provide you with more information about mediation and answer questions about the process. We can help you decide if mediation is in your best interests.