How to Set Up Mediation for Child Custody?

Mediation is a stressful process, but it is necessary to keep an open mind during the meeting. Keep in mind that your spouse may have a different perspective on parenting, and your mediator may have some suggestions for how you should divide parenting time and custody. He or she may also have advice regarding substance abuse and custody. 

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Timeshare calculator 

Timeshare calculators are a valuable tool for calculating the time that each parent will spend with their child during a given year. Parents can use these calculators to create schedules and show the other parent how much time they will each get with the child. They can also be useful for creating parenting plans, which include provisions for how parents will divide parental responsibilities. Parents can also use these calculators to present these documents at mediation. 

Timeshare calculators provide a simple way to set up a schedule to determine how much time each parent will have with the children during each month. These tools have monthly calendars with the parenting time allotted to each parent, along with the timeshare percentage each parent receives. They also provide a summary of each month’s expenses, including child care. If the parents are paying different caregivers, this tool lets parents track those expenses and see how much money they will need to allocate for each caregiver’s time. 

Preparing for mediation 

Before sitting down for mediation for child custody, review the documentation about the case. This will help you understand your position in the case. It also helps to be prepared for dialogue with the mediator. Otherwise, you may end up wasting time and energy on irrelevant topics. Remember to remain focused on the children and avoid tangents. The mediator is there to help you achieve a favorable outcome for your children, so it is important to remain calm and composed during the mediation. 

Before entering the mediation room, prepare an outline of your arguments. You should also bring several possible custody schedules for your children. Be sure to explain to the mediator why each schedule is in the best interest of the children. When sharing your thoughts with the mediator, be firm but respectful, and leave your emotions at the door. Remember, the mediator is not a judge and you should not go into the meeting with an “all or nothing” attitude. In mediation, both parties can work out a compromise that will satisfy both of them. 

Agreeing to mediation 

Agreeing to mediation for child custody can be a difficult process. You’ll want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. Although it may seem stressful, it will be important for both sides to stay calm and remain focused on the goal of the mediation. It can be helpful to have a few things written down before the session to keep your mind focused. 

Your mediator will have a list of issues that will need to be addressed. They will prioritize these according to difficulty and urgency. This will allow you to compromise on less contentious issues and address more difficult ones later. You should also make sure you let the other side express their side of the story. This will help the mediation process go smoothly and help you agree faster. 

Legal advice before and after mediation 

During mediation for child custody, both parents should have an attorney present to provide advice on what to expect. The goal of mediation is to come to a custody agreement that is in the best interest of the child. Parents should come to the mediation meeting with a clear sense of what they want and what they are willing to compromise on. The parents should keep arguments to a minimum and try to avoid pointing blame. The mediator will help the parents communicate productively and keep the conversation focused on the children. 

Both parties need to listen to each other during mediation. The mediator will ask questions to clarify legal issues and help the parties reach an agreement. It is also important not to interrupt the other party. Listening to their concerns and feelings will make the process go smoothly. 

Cost of mediation 

If you have decided to pursue mediation in your child custody dispute, you may be wondering what it will cost. Court-ordered mediation is typically free or very low-cost, depending on the parents’ income levels. However, private mediation is more affordable and allows the parents to have more control over the process. In addition, private mediation is more likely to produce a resolution than court-ordered mediation. 

While parents are not required to bring an attorney to mediation, they can. However, they should notify the mediation program 48 hours before the scheduled mediation. This allows for the mediation process to take important factors into account, such as financial realities.