Family Resources

This time of year, family seems to come to mind a lot. From college and high school graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the many summer holidays we fully understand that every family has differences and we want to be here for you when conflicts arise. Our services save many families anxiety, time, and money with individualized programs that help peacefully resolve disputes. While we work on divorce and child custody issues, we also provide mediation skills to family members. Take a look at the many mediation options for families.

Custody & Visitation Mediation

Mediation provides parties with an opportunity to actively make decisions and develop a parenting plan that both parents can live with. The goal is to help parents communicate and make decisions with their children’s best interest in mind. Custody & Visitation Mediation is a process in which an impartial third party, called a mediator, assists parents or guardians in reaching agreements having to do with custody and parenting disputes.

Divorce Mediation / Divorce Arbitration

Divorce Mediation is a voluntary settlement process used frequently and successfully by married couples who want to divorce, and by domestic partners who want to separate. Divorce mediation gives couples the option to plan their futures rationally, and in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect. With the assistance of a trained divorce mediator, you can reach an agreement that is custom-made for your family, your finances and your future. Read more on the benefits of divorce mediation here.

Divorce Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution method by which an independent, neutral third person hears, considers the merits of the dispute and renders a final and binding decision called an Arbitration Award. In a divorce, you and your ex-spouse may have possessions and household furnishing to divide. A trained arbitrator conducts an arbitration hearing with the two disputing parties and, based on the facts and evidence presented, renders a legally binding award. The process is managed by staff and arbitrators who are trained through the Center for Dispute Settlement.

Parent/Child Mediation

Lastly, the Parent/Child Mediation Program is a mediation service which offers an alternative approach to solving problems that develop between parents and their children. This program gives family members an opportunity to sit down with a trained neutral mediator and work towards a mutually agreeable solution.

There are many goals of this program. Such as:

• Respect among family members
• Household responsibilities
• Establishing and following family rules and curfews
• Feelings of not being listened to or treated fairly
• Smoking, drug, and alcohol use
• School attendance and homework

​ 

  All in all, these programs are put in place to help resolve any issues or conflicts that might arise when handling and dealing with an event that can cause stress and disputes. Just know that we, the Center for Dispute Settlement are here to help.