Is Divorce Mediation Right For Me?

Marriage does not always take us in the direction we expected when we said “I Do”. Sometimes, “forever” actually has an end date. When that time comes, the decisions made can affect you and your spouse but also your children, family and friends forever. Obviously, there is a lot to think about.

As a parent, two questions always come to mind:

How will the divorce and our actions affect the children?
What is the best way to proceed so that our family’s financial stability can be secured?

The decision to proceed with a divorce is a difficult one but the process does not have to be.

Parties to a divorce often expect to experience what they see on television; long, drawn out, vicious litigation that splinters families and negatively affects children. It does not have to be that way.

While divorce litigation may be the only option for people who simply cannot “get on the same page” as one another, those who are of a less confrontational mindset have an alternative.

Steven E. Shumer and the staff at Berger, Fischoff, Shumer, Wexler & Goodman, LLP pride themselves in offering a quality option to divorce litigation in the form of divorce mediation.

In the process of divorce mediation, Berger, Fischoff, Shumer, Wexler & Goodman, LLP, as a divorce mediation firm, serves as a neutral entity, representing neither party in the divorce. In this position as a neutral party, the firm has the opportunity to offer guidance and information based upon more than 75 years of combined experience as legal counsel in the matrimonial field. Possessed with this knowledge, Steven E. Shumer, as your divorce mediator, is able to advise the parties how matters would likely be resolved if litigated in court. Through this guidance you and your spouse are provided the knowledge and chance to settle your disputes, civilly, out of court, at a significantly lower cost and with less conflict. The end result? Two people who can leave the marriage believing that they were treated fairly by the law, treated fairly by one another and possessing the ability to move forward without the hatred and anger that is so often created in the context of litigated divorces.

Additionally, by proceeding via divorce mediation, you and your spouse often agree to share the cost of the divorce mediation instead of each having to pay the separate fees associated with your own representation in a contested or litigated divorce. The cost savings is usually significant.

Most importantly, in divorce mediations in which children are involved, the civil tone established by you and your spouse sets a far better example to children about how responsible and mature adults can handle disputes and walk away friends rather than showing children that fighting and anger can reap rewards.

Steven E. Shumer has represented parties as a divorce mediator for the majority of his career which spans in excess of 25 years. He prides himself on the fact that nearly all of the cases he has mediated have been peacefully resolved via a written settlement agreement, allowing the clients to avoid divorce litigation.

Steven E. Shumer and the divorce mediation staff of Berger, Fischoff, Shumer, Wexler & Goodman, LLP, can help you and your spouse as they have helped so many others in working with parties to arrange for an amicable settlement with reduced stress, cost and conflict via divorce mediation.

The decision between proceeding via litigation or mediation is one to be taken seriously after proper thought and evaluation.