Experienced, Compassionate Seattle Divorce Mediation Attorney
There’s a common misconception that divorce mediation is meant to resolve marital problems, providing couples with a chance to reconcile and reunite. That’s not the purpose of mediation. Instead, divorce mediation takes a couple closer to divorce. The main goal of mediation before divorce is to solve important, if not all issues, preventing the intervention of a judge. If you or your spouse are in the process of filing for divorce, you may want to consider talking to an experienced Seattle divorce mediation attorney.
Zafiro Law Is The Family Law Firm You Need
At Zafiro Law, we handle all kinds of divorce mediation processes in King and Snohomish counties. In fact, divorce mediation satisfies the Alternative Dispute Requirement in these two counties.
Our law firm was founded in 2006 by attorney Katrina Zafiro, who once experienced the pain and suffering of divorcing an abusive ex-spouse. She turned this traumatizing ordeal into something positive, vowing to help people in similar situations navigate the complex legal processes and find the peace of mind they need and deserve. So if that’s what you’re going through at the moment, get in touch with us today.
How Does Divorce Mediation Work?
Before mediation, you and your spouse select a divorce mediator. However, it’s important to note that a divorce mediator is not the same as a divorce mediation attorney. Here’s why.
A divorce mediator is a neutral third party whose primary role is to help couples resolve certain disputes before finalizing the divorce. We’ll discuss more on these disputes shortly. In most cases, both spouses may select the divorce mediator based on their experience, training, ratings, etc.
The mediator doesn’t provide legal advice or make decisions for the divorcing couples. Instead, they help the couples discover what’s best for their specific situation. When the divorcing partners finally come to an agreement on the specific issues being disputed, the mediator will draft the terms of the agreement.
As mentioned earlier, a divorce mediator doesn’t offer any legal advice. For this reason, it may be necessary to hire a Seattle divorce mediation attorney before mediation. Here’s how such an attorney can help.
Why You Need a Seattle Divorce Mediation Attorney
A divorce mediation attorney can help you understand specific rules and procedures of mediation. This gives you peace of mind ahead of mediation. In addition, the divorce mediation attorney will help you prepare your mediation materials, to be submitted to the mediator in advance. When you prepare in advance, especially with the help of an attorney, it gives you the upper hand at the negotiating table.
This attorney can also help you and your spouse select a divorce mediator. In most cases, the court requires mediation before going to trial.
An experienced Seattle divorce mediation attorney from Zafiro Law can also help you understand and decide potential settlements. The lawyer will consider the existing agreements between the divorcing individuals and then evaluate their client’s rights and other legal options.
In addition, this attorney can help review an existing settlement offer for potential issues. For example, the other party might intentionally or unintentionally omit critical details from the settlement offer, something a divorce mediation attorney can help pinpoint.
Suppose you have a successful mediation. In that case, a divorce mediation attorney can help prepare the required paperwork to proceed with the divorce. The attorney will also offer legal advice throughout the process, protecting your interests.
How Long Could a Divorce Mediation Take?
The divorce mediation process varies from one case to another. It could take days, weeks, or even months.
Typically, each mediation session lasts at least half a day. However, the exact number of sessions you attend depends on your situation, the complexity of your divorce, your needs, and your emotional preparedness to agree with the other party.
In addition, the following factors can also affect the duration of the mediation:
- The amount of assets you have
- The number of issues to resolve
- Whether child custody is an issue
- Whether both parties are willing to compromise
When Do We Go to Mediation?
Not all divorce cases require mediation. However, you’ll need mediation if you are not able to resolve them on your own. Examples of such issues include:
Parenting Plans
If you and your spouse can’t agree on a particular Parenting Plan, you may need mediation to help find a solution. A mediator can assist you in making important decisions such as the primary residence of the children, visitation schedule, and the responsibilities of each parent to their child.
Separation of Assets
This covers issues such as who gets the family home or car, distributing family savings and investments, splitting retirement and investment accounts, and keeping property with sentimental value, among other factors.
Spousal Support
Each state has unique laws regarding spousal support after divorce. But you may need a mediator to get both parties to agree on the best spousal support plan.
Child Support
This is usually one of the most contested issues after divorce. However, both parties can agree to a suitable payment plan with the help of a mediator.
Other Important Issues
Some other issues may not be the primary focus of mediation but may still be subject to further discussions. Examples include:
- Custody of pets
- Use of vacation homes
- Use of recreational equipment
- Future communication
- Insurance coverage
Will A Seattle Divorce Mediation Work For You?
Mediation works best if you have many issues to resolve and both parties are willing to fix them before finalizing the divorce. In most cases, divorce mediation processes are successful if both spouses:
- agree to divorce;
- don’t have a history of domestic violence;
- are willing to disclose their financial details; and
- agree on child custody arrangements.
What To Do When Served Divorce Papers
When You Need an Experienced Seattle Divorce Mediation Attorney
Zafiro Law is the law firm to contact when you need a divorce mediation attorney in Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue, Shoreline, Renton, Kent, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Redmond, Sammamish, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, and the surrounding areas. As mentioned before, it’s important that you understand your rights before heading into divorce mediation. At Zafiro Law, we’ll prepare you for mediation, giving you the confidence you need for a successful divorce process. Call us today at (206) 309-9645 for a consultation!
