Discussing Your Divorce Settlement in a Healthy Manner
Worried about the impact a contentious divorce trial might have on your kids? Don’t want a stranger in black robes settling consequential family law disputes? Mediation might be the best route for you and your spouse to finalize the divorce.
Attorney Tycha Kimbrough is a Texas Certified Mediator. Attorney Kimbrough focuses her mediation practice on divorce, conservatorship (child custody), child support, and other complex, high-conflict family law matters.
What is Mediation?
Many Texas judges require divorcing couples to mediate their differences before a trial takes place. Mediation is a non-judicial process that aims to help two opposing parties come to an agreement on a civil law matter. Instead of going to court and risking a drawn-out, contentious legal battle, mediation features a neutral third party (the mediator) who speaks with each party to help them amicably resolve their case issues.
Mediation consists of the mediator discussing the disputed issues with each party and their legal counsel separately. Unless there is a compelling need for a joint meeting, parties in family law mediation typically reach an agreement without seeing each other. Here are a few important facts about mediation:
- If the parties enter into a Mediated Settlement Agreement, which is a written agreement, the results are legally binding;
- The length of mediation can vary; some mediations can take a few hours, while others may take multiple days;
- The purpose of mediation is to facilitate an agreement between the parties; and
- Unlike court proceedings, mediation is confidential.
Mediation is not the best fit for every couple. If your divorce involves domestic violence, child abuse, or some other serious crime, litigation could be the optimal route. At any rate, Attorney Kimbrough would be honored to serve as your mediator and get you on the path to a brighter future.
