Protecting Your Children

In litigation, the best interests of your children sometimes get lost in the battle, as kids become the prize to win or lose.  In court, it becomes imperative to prove you are a better parent than the other person, and in order to do so, each side looks for evidence the other is incompetent.  Regardless of whomever “wins” in court, both parents are sure to remember the accusations that have been made by the other.  The result is the weakest possible foundation for cooperative parenting in the future.

For a parent, protecting your children from harm and creating a positive environment during a divorce is a top concern. Years of research about the impact of divorce on children clearly indicate that how well the parents get along after divorce is one of the most important determinants of how well children adjust. The research also tells us that the quality of the relationship between father and child or mother and child is what matters, not the exact number of hours or days with each. 

Mediation starts with the assumption that both parents are competent, and that children need both parents in their lives.  We work on developing an appropriate Parenting Plan that includes outlining the daily and weekly schedules and holiday and summer arrangements. You will develop an agreement on how to make decisions about schools, medical issues, sports, friends, and all the other crucial issues around your child’s life.