Preparing For The Child Custody Mediation Process

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Preparing For The Child Custody Mediation Process
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Introduction

• When it comes to deciding child custody between
  both parents, the process can be easy or
  difficult. Some parents are able to come to an
  immediate agreement to benefit the interests of
  their child or children. Others may need another
  party to intervene and help both parties come to
  a suitable custody solution for their child or
  children. The child custody mediation process
  essentially involves both parents and a third
  party, who helps both parents come to a working
  agreement to effectively parent their child or
  children in separate households. Before either
  parent searches for a solution to resolve to
  decide who gets what custody, it is important to
  know how to prepare for the child custody
  mediation process.

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Content

• Preparing for child custody mediation
• Preparing for child custody mediation
• Anticipating Divorce In Long-Term Marriages By
  The Years
• Anticipating a divorce in a long term marriage
• 20 years
• 25 to 30 years
• 40 years
• Tips For Avoiding Mistakes When Searching For A
  Divorce Lawyer
• Avoiding mistakes when looking for a divorce
  lawyer

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Preparing for child custody mediation

• A child custody mediator does not make immediate
  decisions. Instead, this third party helps both
  parents come to a child custody agreement that
  can later be approved in the courts. It is best
  to use a child custody mediation professional if
  both parties are unable to come to an immediate
  agreement in regards to the custody of their
  children or child.
•  
• In most states, the child custody mediation
  process is considered voluntary and is not
  required. Other states, however, do require some
  kind of child custody mediation before the judge
  will approve any court orders related to child
  custody. The mediation process is
  straightforward, usually starting with either
  party meeting with the mediator and discussing
  the custody-related issues at hand. The mediator
  and both parties then discuss and review the
  issues at hand, come to a solution, and
  eventually draft and sign an agreement to be
  reviewed by the courts. Most parents are able to
  work out an agreement with a mediator in a short
  amount of time, though some cases require more
  time to work through issues with a child custody
  mediation expert.

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Preparing for child custody mediation

• In most cases, both parents should prepare for
  child custody mediation by talking to their
  attorneys before meeting with the mediator. This
  helps either party understand their rights to
  custody of their child/children and their
  responsibilities involving those rights. It is
  also recommended for both parties to maintain
  documentation regarding the childcare of their
  child/children, including daily schedules for the
  child/children, medical records, and other
  documents noting special circumstances for child
  visitation terms.

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• Each parent is also encouraged to create a
  document laying out the terms for child
  visitation. Having a document like this helps
  each parent determine their desires for the terms
  of child custody of the child/children in
  question. Having those documents prepared also
  allows the mediator to work with either party to
  come to an agreement regarding those terms. For
  example, either parent could establish terms for
  dropping off the child/children at the other
  parents' home, detailing locations and the type
  of transportation they plan to use in the
  document. Being prepared to work with the other
  parent is essential to conclude the child custody
  mediation process in a relatively civil way.

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Anticipating Divorce In Long-Term Marriages By
The Years

• Divorce in long term marriages does not just
  happen overnight. A divorce in long term
  marriages generally happens after both parties
  agree to end the marriage over a number of
  significant factors. In this case, the marriage
  ends after a number of years, usually as long as
  20 years. Sometimes, a divorce in long term
  marriages occurs after as long as 50 years.
  Regardless of the length of the marriage, a
  divorce following a long term marriage
  arrangement has many challenges that are unique
  when compared to a divorce of a shorter term
  marriage. Depending on when the divorce occurs,
  these unique challenges can vary in scope.

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Anticipating a divorce in a long term marriage

• Also known as a grey divorce, divorce in long
  term marriages generally occur after about 20
  years of marriage or more. In the past, these
  types of divorces were considered relatively
  uncommon. However, the end of long term marriages
  between two parties is becoming more common. The
  nature of long term marriages makes for unique
  divorce scenarios since aspects like assets
  between both parties need to be taken into
  consideration before concluding the divorce
  process. Even the length of the marriage plays a
  role in how the divorce will play out.

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20 years

• After 20 years, a divorce in a long term marriage
  could conclude in a relatively clean break. If
  there is contention between both parties, it
  could end in a rather tricky way. One of the main
  factors that impact a divorce after two decades
  of marriage is child custody, since any child or
  children may still be underage at the time of
  divorce. The allowance of alimony for the parent
  with caretaking duties for children or a child is
  another issue that usually needs to be settled in
  a divorce for a two-decade-old marriage.

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25 to 30 years

• After 25 to 30 years of marriage, the divorce
  process gets a little less tricky. However, the
  bigger issue at this stage of marriage and
  divorce is the dividing of assets, such as the
  marital home. In most cases, the party with
  larger stakes in the home (such as equity or even
  maintaining living space for the children as the
  sole parent) may get the marital home unless the
  other party buys them out. The dividing of assets
  between the divorcing parties is considered
  rather tricky at this stage and is usually
  determined on a case by case basis within the
  courts.

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40 years

• After about 40 to 50 years, the biggest factor
  that impacts the divorce process in a long term
  marriage is the dividing of retirement assets.
  Since the retirement accounts between both
  parties are likely joint accounts, these accounts
  will have to get divided up during the divorce
  process. Alimony for either spouse is also a
  factor to consider, especially if one party is
  still in the workforce. Both parties will have to
  come to an agreement on terms that will benefit
  each other long after the divorce process ends at
  this stage of their lives.

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Tips For Avoiding Mistakes When Searching For A
Divorce Lawyer

• Finding an appropriate divorce lawyer high seems
  like a simple process, however, it does get
  tricky if not prepared. Prospective clients of a
  great divorce lawyer often have to navigate
  through a continuous stream of information about
  divorce. They also have to use what they might
  already know and desire about their impending
  divorce to interview potential lawyers. The
  beginning, middle, and conclusion of the divorce
  process are rife with high emotions, all of which
  can significantly impact the perception of not
  just the prospective client, but also might set
  the stage for the case in question. To avoid
  making mistakes when finding the right divorce
  lawyer, prospective clients should learn exactly
  what those mistakes look like.

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Avoiding mistakes when looking for a divorce
lawyer

• The typically hostile nature of divorce leads to
  high emotions that can completely color the
  entire mood of the legal process. These emotions
  not only affect the client, but also the legal
  professional that the client may choose to
  represent them. High emotions from either party
  can lead to mistakes being made. The prospective
  client can completely avoid making such mistakes
  if they are aware of them before they happen.
• The most common mistake made during the divorce
  process is writing or saying emotionally charged
  words towards the other party. Many professional
  legal advisors highly suggest assuming anything
  said, written, or recorded will be utilized
  against them in court as a part of the defense of
  the other party. This is especially important in
  states where one party can be awarded assets like
  property if the other party is found to be
  completely at fault for the reasons behind the
  divorce. The decisions regarding child custody is
  another contentious part of the divorce process
  where both parties should avoid saying anything
  that could be used against them.

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• Another potential mistake is avoiding any type of
  negotiation or mediation with the other party.
  Negotiation with or without a mediator has the
  potential to improve the prospective divorce
  settlement between the parties in question. For
  example, divorcing parents may settle their
  disagreements and come to an agreement over child
  custody if they discuss those terms before
  heading to court. It is also recommended to keep
  a record of these meetings, such as a recording
  or written agreement, to have proof that the
  meetings occurred on both sides. Both parties
  should also regard the advice of their separate
  legal representatives when discussing the terms
  of a prospective settlement between both parties.
  

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• Completely disregarding any legal representation
  in a divorce is considered the biggest mistake
  any party could make. A divorce lawyer helps
  their clients successfully negotiate terms while
  defending them during the entirety of the divorce
  process. Self-representation in a divorce is
  considered highly problematic for the sole reason
  that many people who undergo divorces lack the
  understanding and experience to successfully
  manage the details and defend themselves at the
  same time. Hiring a qualified divorce lawyer is
  the best investment that any divorcing party
  could make for themselves.
• See more at https//www.eidelmanassoc.com/Mediatio
  n-Services/child-custody-mediation