Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Texas Mediation Lawyers

Texas Family Law Mediation and ADR Lawyers

When you are going through a divorce, our lawyers realize that it is difficult to put aside your emotions and work through the details that must be resolved in an objective and calm manner. After all, you are experiencing an event that is upsetting the entire balance of how you have been living. However, and particularly when there are children involved, finding a way to reach a divorce settlement in a way that minimizes contention and anger is the best alternative whenever possible. Mediation or other alternative resolution techniques are often less time-consuming and less expensive than the traditional procedures that play out in a courtroom, and are accomplished in a way that reduces animosity between the parties involved.

If you decide to try mediation to resolve the points of contention in your divorce negotiations, each spouse will come to the table with an attorney and present their cases before an impartial third party who will then review the evidence and share which argument is the most effective. While there are no legally binding decisions made in this setting, just having the opportunity to speak your mind and feel that you have been heard concerning important issues such as child custody and alimony can make a difference. And, it is quite possible that your former spouse will offer more weight to the opinion of a mediator than the person with whom he or she is ending a marital relationship.

Collaborative law is a growing field of interest to people who wish to reach a legal settlement in a way that encourages compromise and who want to avoid the high court costs that can come out of litigation. In this instance, both parties will come together with their own lawyers with the understanding that every effort will be made to reach an agreement on all details through negotiation. If this proves unsuccessful, you always have the option of resolving any remaining issues of contention through family court. Many judges in Texas are going to encourage divorcing couples to attempt this process before coming into the courtroom, as the ability of collaborative law to produce results that are fair and satisfying to both parties is well proven.

There will be times in which sitting across from one another at table and engaging in mediated negotiation just is not possible. Sometimes the communication has simply broken down beyond repair. However, if you open to the idea of mediation or other approaches to collaborative law, this relatively amicable approach to creating a divorce agreement is encouraged. A family law attorney at Bertolino LLP can review your specific circumstances and offer their recommendation concerning whether such a resolution approach may work for you.