Divorce mediators educate - Utah

The Spectrum

Excerpts:

Divorce takes anywhere from several months to years to settle in court. And so the state of Utah passed House Bill 4, or Utah Code 30-3-39, earlier this year. It states that if there is a contested issue when filing for divorce, whether it's over property, custody, visitation rights or another matter, starting May 2 all parties must participate in at least one session of mediation.

Though only the first meeting is required by law, the results are beginning to prove its effectiveness in resolving sensitive issues.

"The national statistic on cases solved through mediation range from 60 to 70 percent," Elton said. "It is cheaper, quicker and the parties have total control of the outcome."

Mediators cost $50 to $200 dollars an hour on average. Divorces can be solved within the time the two parties spend during mediation, eliminating the time waiting for court appearances and hefty legal fees.

Collaborative divorce is gaining fans in Santa Fe - New Mexico

Article available at the Free New Mexican

Excerpts:

Divorce is almost always emotionally and financially painful for couples. But it doesn’t have to end in a costly, all-out war over the house, the bank account, the kids — or even the cat.

Collaborative practice is different from mediation, where a neutral, third party helps the disputing parties settle their case. In collaborative practice, the spouses and their attorneys make these decisions in fourway discussions.

In some cases, the divorcing couple might select a specialist to represent their children and a neutral financial expert in addition to their collaborative lawyers.

Advocates say this model is cheaper and faster than traditional divorce, reduces family conflict and results in higher compliance with agreements.

You keep control of the process without going to court. Children’s needs are given priority. You and your partner commit to reaching agreement through a problem-solving approach. An atmosphere of respect preserves self-esteem. Open communication provides tools for effective problem solving in the future. There is full disclosure of facts and information. Face-to-face meetings allow for mutually created resolutions. Process helps couple plan for their futures.

Mediation

This is an article discussing the benefits and costs involved with mediation versus a court battle. Specific resources for parents in New York. timesunion.com

Alternatives to Court

A company that offers divorcing couples a structured alternative to doing battle in court. madison.com

UPDATE: This article was written in response to the one above. madison.com

Divorce in Arkansas

The state of divorce in Arkansas, including the propensity for mediation. The Morning News