Child custody mediation is when you and the other parent meet with a neutral 3rd party (called a mediator) to make your parenting plan.
The purpose of custody mediation is to help you work with the other parent to make a custody agreement you both support. In mediation, the mediator will guide you as you make a parenting plan with information about making decisions for your child, the time your child will be with each parent, how you and the other parent will care for and provide for your child, etc.
To prepare for mediation, you should:
Custody X Change is a great tool to help you prepare for mediation. Custody X Change is custody software that helps you create parenting plans and custody schedules.
With Custody X Change, you can:
You can download a free 30-day trial of Custody X Change to see how it can help you.
Sometimes. Many states require parents to attend mediation before going to court. Check your state and county laws to find out if you have to try mediation.
Even if your state doesn't require you to go to mediation, you may want to look into it. Every state encourages parents to work together to create a custody agreement so even if mediation doesn't work, it will look good in court that you tried it. And, if mediation does work, you will save yourself from a custody battle.
It depends on the type of mediation.
Court ordered mediation: states that require you to attend mediation sometimes have free mediation through the court. Sometimes the court mediation has a fee and you may be ordered t pay part of the fee, all of the fee, or the fee may be waived. The cost of court ordered mediation varies greatly and depends on where you live.
Private mediation: private mediators usually charge an hourly rate or flat fee. The average hourly rate is between 200-400 dollars. When you meet with a private mediator, you will work out a contract for payment. Sometimes the cost of mediation includes filing the plan with the court. Check your area for local rates for mediation.
Generally, working out a custody agreement in mediation is cheaper than going through court to decide your agreement because mediation is faster and takes less hours.
This depends on the number of custody issues to work out, the commitment of the parents in working out an agreement, and the amount of conflict in the custody situation.
If you are in an average custody situation, you can usually create your custody agreement in mediation in a few sessions within a few weeks. If you have a high conflict situation with a lot of issues, it may take a few months in mediation to make your agreement.
Generally a mediation session is 1-2 hours. Sometimes you can meet with a mediator for a longer time and try to work out your agreement all at once.
Yes, it can. Mediation is actually designed to help parents work through conflict to create a plan for child custody. Mediators are trained to help parents resolve conflict and focus on the child.
Mediation is successful when both parents are able to put the needs of the child first and cooperate on a plan. Even if parents have strong disagreements with each other, a mediator can help both parents focus on what is best for the child. This lets them work out a custody plan that everyone supports.
High conflict cases can really benefit from mediation because high conflict cases have a higher chance of repeatedly going to court. Mediation can stop the court cycle because both parents have an equal say in what goes in the agreement in mediation. This can prevent future disagreements and arguments.
Here are some ideas to make mediation successful:
If your state requires custody mediation, you can find a mediator through the court.
There are also private custody mediators. Usually these mediators have a degree in law, social work, or counseling. A mediator should also be trained in custody mediation and have experience.
You can find a private mediator in your area by asking your attorney or the court for recommendations, looking online, or looking in your local directory.
You can use Custody X Change as a family mediator to help your clients work together to make the best possible parenting plan.
With Custody X Change, you can: