Learn About Divorce Settlement Options
When people think about working through divorce, they often picture a contentious courtroom battle. Thankfully, there are settlement options that are more amicable, less expensive and less time-intensive and that provide parties with more satisfaction and control.
If you are interested in learning more about your settlement options, it’s important to work with a divorce attorney who has experience handling mediation. Our lawyers at Hill Crabb, LLC, have extensive experience in civil mediation and family mediation. We help parties reach peaceful and workable settlements that serve their separate but common interests. Our firm works with individuals in Edina, the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota in mediation, child-focused mediation, early neutral evaluations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Mediation
Mediation is a voluntary process where a couple seeking divorce works with an impartial party — the mediator — to generate their own solutions in settling their divorce. The mediator cannot give legal advice, take sides or make decisions for the parties.
Instead, mediators can help parties reach agreements when they are struggling or reach an impasse. Mediators facilitate conversation and help people address issues in order to reach agreements.
Early Neutral Evaluation
In early neutral evaluation, parties work with a two-member team that may include both lawyers and mental health professionals. Both parties explain their stories and desired outcomes to the professionals.
Based on that information, the lawyers and mental health professionals suggest the resolutions they think are in line with that the court would do. The suggested resolution is not legally binding, but it gives the parties a neutral perspective that often acts to encourage the parties to reevaluate their position and seek compromise in order to reach an agreement. Early neutral evaluation provides a safe place for both parties to be genuine, open and honest.
Child-Focused Mediation
Child-focused mediation is a newer mediation option that involves a mediator and mental health professional. The mental health professional meets with the children and parents separately then later come together at mediation. At mediation, the mental health professional makes recommendations on custody, parenting time, and other child related issues that are intended to promote the emotional, physical and developmental needs of the children. The mediator then facilitates conversation between the parties and mental health professional to reach agreements that are focused on the best interests of the children.
Schedule A Consultation
Regardless of your legal goals, an experienced lawyer can help you move through the process more quickly and efficiently without going to court. Learn more about your options by scheduling a consultation. Our lawyers at Hill Crabb, LLC, can be reached through an online contact form or by calling 612-568-5967.