Going through a messy divorce can be stressful, as there are many things to sort out, including parenting, finances, and property division. Therefore, to avoid the situation taking a serious toll on one’s health, assistance from a divorce mediator is essential. However, it is critical to seek an experienced professional with empathy and great mediation skills, which is not always easy.

The decision to get a divorce is difficult, regardless of the circumstances. When you think about going through a divorce, you may begin to feel anxious due to the sheer number of questions you will need to answer: Where will the children live? How will our finances be split? Who will pay child support? These are some questions that must be addressed before you finalize your divorce. While you and your soon-to-be ex may be butting heads, you also must be able to agree on the terms of your divorce, especially when children are involved. Fortunately, there are options available besides battling in court, with the most common and cost effective one being mediation.

The decision to get a divorce is a very difficult one regardless of the state you live in or your circumstances. You have many options and it is important to understand which process is most appropriate for your situation. Choosing to mediate your divorce vs. litigation can be a challenging one if you do not know the differences between the two. During a consultation with one of the mediators at C.E.L. & Associates, Inc, we explain in non “legalese” terminology everything you need to know to help you make an informed decision. The first step to obtaining an optimal result for your family as you start the divorce process is choosing the right process. To help you make this decision, we have compiled a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both processes. 

Trying to navigate a marriage that has sadly broken down can be emotionally and financially challenging for both partners and their families. Therefore it’s always wise to attempt to mediate rather than getting divorced with attorneys in court. However, many misperceptions mislead clients into believing that divorce mediation may not be productive, which cannot be further from the truth.

Divorce can be complicated, especially when there are children involved. Though our role in a divorce is to help our clients reach good parenting and financial agreements, we start out by making sure our clients are ready to start the mediation process and the ultimate legal dissolution of their relationship.

Most parents have no structured college savings plans set up for their children. Sadly, the numbers are even higher after a divorce. When people divorce, there are so many complex issues to discuss and agree to, college planning for the children typically takes a back seat to everything else. Things such as, “We’ll work it out when the time comes” or “We’ll set something up after the divorce, when things calm down” are common in my client meetings. As a divorce mediator, I cringe when I hear my clients utter these phrases. Even the most well intended parents don’t follow through with these statements. Chances are, if something isn’t structured and worked out in the divorce agreement, there’s a good chance nothing will get done. This in turn will lead to heated post-divorce college planning arguments, court dates and legal fees when it comes time to pay for college.

Original Article Source Credits:   Mediate India , https://www.mediate.com/

Article Written By:  Jen Schimbeno, Brandyn Roark Caires

Original Article Posted on:  June 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.mediate.com/articles/schimbeno-kids-in-middle.cfm

Original Article Source Credits:   Mediate India ,https://www.mediate.com/

Article Written By:  Eric R. Galton

Original Article Posted on:  June 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.mediate.com/articles/galton-benefits-virtual.cfm

Original Article Source Credits:   St.Louis Post-Dispatch , https://www.stltoday.com/

Article Written By:  Stu Durando

Original Article Posted on:  Jun 24, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.stltoday.com/sports/olympics/usa-gymnastics-remains-in-bankruptcy-mediation-with-survivors/article_7abd7246-7b05-54ad-a16d-456a323779ac.html

Original Article Source Credits:  Verywell Family  , https://www.verywellfamily.com/ 

Article Written By:  Wayne Parker

Original Article Posted on:  April 26, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.verywellfamily.com/keys-for-success-as-divorced-dad-1270180

Original Article Source Credits:   Investopedia , https://www.investopedia.com/

Article Written By:  James McWhinney

Original Article Posted on:  Jun 9, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/marriage-killing-money-issues.asp

Co-mediation is a form of mediation where more than one mediator is present during a meeting. It is thought to be more beneficial to clients as the mediators complement each other in terms of personality, culture, gender, professional background to improve the quality of the mediation process and its outcome. A co-mediation can be used to settle divorce and post-decree cases (i.e., situations that occur after divorce). The purpose of this form of cooperation is to facilitate agreements on all issues regarding children and finances, with as little conflict as possible.

Original Article Source Credits:   Divorce Magazine , https://www.divorcemag.com/

Article Written By:  Vickie Hall

Original Article Posted on:   May 28, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.divorcemag.com/articles/do-not-give-up-on-your-children-fight-for-your-childrens-time

Original Article Source Credits:   The Balance , https://www.thebalance.com/

Article Written By:  Rebecca Lake 

Original Article Posted on:  May 20, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.thebalance.com/dividing-divorce-assets-who-gets-the-college-savings-plan-4165812

Original Article Source Credits:   Divorce Magazine , https://www.divorcemag.com/

Article Written By:   Ben Coltrin 

Original Article Posted on:  May 26, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.divorcemag.com/blog/here-is-why-courts-prefer-that-parents-settle-during-divorce

Original Article Source Credits:   Divorce Magazine , https://www.divorcemag.com/

Article Written By:  Frankie Wallace 

Original Article Posted on:  June 07, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.divorcemag.com/blog/navigating-a-divorce-in-your-early-20s

Original Article Source Credits:   NY INTELLIGENCER , https://nymag.com/intelligencer

Article Written By:  Matt Stieb

Original Article Posted on:  MAY 27, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/05/who-gets-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-in-the-divorce.html

Original Article Source Credits:   C Net , https://www.cnet.com/ 

Article Written By:  Ian Sherr, Abrar Al-Heeti

Original Article Posted on:  May 17, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.cnet.com/news/bill-gates-and-melinda-gates-divorce-everything-about-the-foundation-affair-and-billions-at-stake/

Original Article Source Credits:   Divorce Magazine , https://www.divorcemag.com/

Article Written By:   Natalie S. Kay, Esquire 

Original Article Posted on:  May 11, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.divorcemag.com/articles/legal-disputes-between-divorced-parents-around-the-covid-19-vaccine

Original Article Source Credits:   The Balance , https://www.thebalance.com/

Article Written By:  Christy Rakoczy

Original Article Posted on:  May 07, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.thebalance.com/sorting-finances-after-divorce-5184034