Consultation by Zoom Teleconference for all Couples to Learn About Separation & Divorce Mediation Free-Of-Charge

Thank you for educating yourself about the options available to take you through the process of separation and divorce.

Often one spouse or the other or both may be reluctant to try mediation. This is the perfect opportunity to get the information you need without feeling obligated and at no cost. The consultation will help de-mystify the process without pressure.

Free Consultation Agenda:

• Overview from setting an appointment to divorce and beyond.
• Preparing for mediation negotiations.
• Full Description of fee structure.
• Typical timetables to complete mediation process.
• Factors that increase or decrease mediation time.
• Involvement of independent counsel and financial professionals.
• Understanding mediation negotiations.
• Other costs involved in getting a divorce.

To schedule your consultation, click here, contact our office and learn:

• Why Mediation? Why not?
• How are my legal rights protected in mediation?
• What if my spouse won't agree to attend mediation?
• What preparation will we need to mediate?
• Can the Mediator Draft a Separation or Marital Settlement Agreement?
• Do we need lawyers?
• How long will it take?
• How much will it cost?

It is up to you to choose between a settlement process where de-escalation is the goal and the parties are the negotiators; or to choose an adversarial negotiation where attorneys are the negotiators who negotiate under threat of or actual filing of litigation. Your circumstances may lead you towards one path or the other. Learn the basics of how both processes work to understand the differences and make a good decision for both of you.

Hear about the process before you begin. Understand the costs and efforts that are part of mediation with Ms. Caplan.

Find out how your spouse can be made aware of the benefits of mediation to allow you both to choose a settlement process to arrive at your settlement together.

Become oriented to the topics of family law mediation such as:

• Legal Custody: Who will make major decisions, relating to health, education, and the religious upbringing of the Children? Who will decide where the children will live?
• Physical Custody: Where will the Children sleep each night? What will be the Regular Schedule of the Children during the school year? What is the summer schedule? How will holidays be scheduled? How are birthdays split? What about vacations and traveling with the Children?
• Child Support: What is the income of each party? How are the Maryland Child Support Guidelines calculated? Who pays for clothing, medical care, extracurricular activities, camp? Will there be an agreement relating to college expenses? What about the special needs of some Children like tutoring? What about transportation costs where the parents live far apart?
• Health Insurance: How will we all keep our health insurance? How will the premium be paid? What about health costs not covered by insurance?
• Using the Family Home: Where Husband and Wife and the Children live? Will one spouse stay in the Family Home? If so, for how long? How will the mortgage or rent be paid? What about the other bills for the Family Home? Are we going to sell the Family Home? Will one spouse keep the Family Home and refinance to remove the other from mortgage obligations? What is refinancing the Family Home is not possible?
• Alimony/Spousal Support: Does one spouse need support? How much and for how long?
• Personal Property: Furniture, cars, bank accounts, stock accounts?
• Retirement Accounts: How are IRA's, 401k's, Pensions and other retirement accounts divided?
• Debts, Credit Cards: Who pays what? Will we pay off this debt when the Family Home is sold or another way?

Attorney-mediator Nancy Caplan, Esquire offers you this opportunity to learn about the options in an initial orientation for prospective mediation participants during this your no-cost consultation. Stop wondering what you should do and begin to gather your information about how the process which you will negotiate works. Schedule your appointment today Free Consultation Request Form.

Why ask your spouse or coparent to explore mediation to resolve the issues necessary to move forward in the future? The communication will tell your spouse or coparent that you are interested in a peaceful and cost-effective process. The communication will spark curiosity about mediation as a process for separation, divorce and/or custody. Even if your spouse seems unwilling to consider mediation for separation, divorce or custody, your communication will plant a seed in his/her/their head that there is a better way to get divorced or determine custody. When attorneys fees and costs of litigation escalate, this seed of mediation may germinate in the future and he/she/they may suggest mediation to help you resolve your divorce or custody litigation knowing of your initial interest. It doesn’t hurt to ask your spouse- “Are you willing to discuss our children and our property together in a thoughtful, non-adversarial and cost-effective way?” It’s never too soon or too late to request mediation.