Too often those affected most in a divorce are the children. Good intentions or not, most couples rarely agree on every issue, and with children in the picture the disputes can linger for years. To avoid ongoing conflict and future disputes, a more collaborative approach may be suggested in order to work out child custody issues. Minnesota couples interested in learning about less stressful approaches to child custody issues will likely have interest in learning about alternatives to traditional, contested divorce.
Mediation is one approach to working on child custody matters. Mediation is a process involving a neutral third-party who helps couples reach agreements outside of the courtroom. The process has been so successful in some jurisdictions that courts are beginning to mandate mediation before parents go before a judge. The hope is that through mediation, and outside the adversarial environment often associated with a courtroom, the hostility of the divorce will be diminished.
Another approach to addressing child custody matters in a more civil manner is simply to work closely with a legal professional who understands that the goal of both parties is to preserve the interests of their children Making these desires clear may be all it takes to get the ball rolling with your spouse. Once everybody is aware of the mutually-shared goal to be civil, the parties can discuss how best to meet everyone's needs.
Whether a couple chooses mediation or collaboration, both approaches allow them to work civilly on determining parenting time and visitation rights, as well as to establish procedures for future modifications. The more parents are willing to work together, and share in the responsibility of developing and managing the terms of their divorce, the better the post divorce relationship will be for everyone involved, especially the children.
Source: Sun Sentinel, "Mediation for divorced parents who just can't agree," Marci Shatzman, Aug. 15, 2012
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