Individuals who do not want to hand over their power to a judge to determine how custody should be handled may opt for child custody mediation in South Florida. This process allows the parties to come together and work through their problems with the help of a third-party neutral experienced in conflict resolution. At the end of child custody mediation in South Florida, the parties can have a customized agreement that is tailored to the needs of their family. Some ways to arrive at the best solution possible include:
Consider the Needs of the Children
While divorce and child custody can be contentious matters, maintaining negative feelings toward the other parent ultimately damages the children. By placing anger and bitterness to the side, the parents can consider provisions that will take into consideration the needs of their children so that any agreement is child-focused.
Keep an Open Mind
While a parent may come into mediation with certain expectations on what will be the best plan, these ideas may change as they go through the process of mediation. For example, it may make more sense for one parent to have the children on the weekends as well as on days in which the parent helps the child with an extracurricular activity that he or she has always been a part of. Standard visitation and parenting time allotments do not have to be used. The parties are free to reach any agreement that they come to.
Speak Up
While it is ideal to reach an agreement, the agreement should be one that you are happy with. If there is something that doesn’t feel right or that you don’t think your children can handle, speak up.
Get the Right Mediator
The mediator you choose is critical to your potential success. Deborah has extensive financial experience that can help provide clarity when deciding financial issues related to custody. She has also successfully mediated cases involving parties with and without attorneys, resulting in amicable solutions for the parties and their families.