Are you looking for a neutral attorney-mediator? Whether you just separated from your spouse and the two of you are willing to work together to find a solution, or whether you have been involved in equitable distribution proceedings for two years and need help finding a solution to put an end to the litigation, you can hire Rebecca Robison to mediate your case. Rebecca Robison became a NCDRC Family Financial Mediator in 2015. Rebecca has practiced family law since 2003, and she has a wealth of legal experience and knowledge to assist you in mediating your family law case. Rebecca can assist you in resolving your differences, providing realistic expectations, and helping you get closure.
Prior to attending mediation, it is helpful for all parties involved to gather all necessary financial documentation and think about how you want to resolve your case. If you have a settlement offer that you want to start using at mediation, then it’s smart to go ahead and share that, as well as your financial documentation, with the mediator. Also, it’s a good idea to keep a notepad with some notes to remind yourself about what things are most important to you. You should never leave mediation feeling like you lost “everything.” A good mediation will leave both sides feeling like they lost a little something, but they ultimately reached a resolution that they can live with.
Even if you don’t think that mediation will work, you should always give mediation a shot. If you are currently involved in an equitable distribution lawsuit, then you are required by the court to give mediation a shot. Your mediator is equipped with a special set of skills that can assist you in resolving your case. Mediations are a cost-effective way to provide you with closure. As the mediator will remind you, while you are at the mediation table, you have some control over how your case is resolved. If you decide not to resolve your case during mediation, then you will lose all control by putting your case – your 20-year marriage and your financial future – in the hands of a judge who will only listen to your case for a few hours or a few days.
Occasionally, you may need more than one mediation session if you have a complex family law dispute involving a high-net-worth marital estate, high-conflict custody case, child support, alimony, and other related issues. Rebecca Robison can mediate all aspects of your case. Call or text Robison Smith Law today at (704) 741-0220, email us, or set up your consultation online.
An Alternative to Divorce as Usual
The end of a marriage or relationship can be tragic enough. Often, the process of divorcing only adds to the pain. You and your spouse or partner may come to see each other as adversaries and the divorce as a battleground. You may experience feelings of confusion, anger, loss and conflict. Under such circumstances, you might find it difficult to see an end to divorce, much less imagine a hopeful future afterwards.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. A growing number of parting couples, along with other professionals such as lawyers, mental health professionals and financial specialists, have been seeking a more constructive alternative. These professionals have developed the Collaborative Practice model.
Collaborative Practice is a reasonable approach to divorce based on three principles:
Mutual respect is fundamental to the collaborative way. You may cease being spouses, but you don’t cease being worthy human beings. When respect is given and received, discussions are likely to be more productive and an agreement reached more easily.
A Pledge to Collaborate
The key difference between Collaborative Practice and conventional divorce is the pledge to reach an agreement before going to court. You and your spouse keep control of the decisions yourselves, rather than giving it up to a judge. In order to accomplish that, all of the parties consent in writing to be part of a respectful process that leads to an out-of-court resolution. With Collaborative Practice, the goal is to develop effective relationships, solve problems jointly, and prevent a court battle.
Collaborative Lawyer
Though Collaborative Practice seeks to avoid going to court, the settlement is still a legal agreement. Therefore, it is essential that a lawyer be involved to advise you on all matters of law, from child custody and support to maintenance agreements to financial settlements and property distribution. Collaborative lawyers have made a commitment to the unique practice of the collaborative model.
Financial Specialist
The divorce settlement will in part determine your financial well-being for many years to come. It is critical that it be soundly structured, especially if your spouse assumed more responsibility for your family’s finances. The guidance of a financial specialist will help protect your interests. Reviewing all assets and incomes, the financial specialist will assist you in analyzing viable financial options for your future. Evaluating the choices, you and your lawyer can then construct a comprehensive plan for the next stage of your life.
We Can Help
Rebecca L. Robison, one of the family law attorneys at Robison Smith Law, is a professionally trained Collaborative Divorce Attorney and is a member of the Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals Ground, and will assist you through this process. Call or text Robison Smith Law today at (704) 741-0220, email us, or set up your consultation online.
Open Communication
Even under the best of circumstances, communication can be strained as a relationship is ending. Yet keeping the lines of communication open is essential for reaching an agreement. Collaborative Practice provides for face-to-face meetings with you, your spouse, your respective lawyers and your team as needed. These sessions are intended to produce an honest exchange of information and expression of needs and expectations. When the issues are openly discussed, problem solving can be direct and solutions-oriented.
Divorce Coach
Divorce is a major life transition; while it marks the end of one part of your life, it is also the beginning of another. A mental health professional helps you manage the pain and strain of changing relationships, while focusing on goals for the present and the future. Working with you to make the most of your strengths, your mental health professional assists you in being at your best during the divorce process, then taking positive steps to a new life.
Child Specialist
Children may suffer most from divorce, and be least able to understand or express their feelings. Their world is being turned upside down in ways that they cannot begin to comprehend. Communication with parents may be difficult, if not impossible. A goal of Collaborative Practice is to assure that children are a priority, not a casualty. The child specialist, an individual skilled in understanding children, will meet with your children privately, assisting them in expressing their feelings and concerns about the divorce. Encouraging children to think creatively about the future, the child specialist then communicates their feelings, concerns and hopes to the team to consider when planning for the children’s lives.
Arbitration is another method to resolve your marital or custody related disputes outside of going to court. You can agree to arbitration in your prenuptial agreement, postnuptial agreement, separation and property settlement agreement, or even your consent order.
Arbitration in the family law context is handled by a member of the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, such as a NCDRC Family Financial Mediator. Unlike mediations, the arbitrator will make a decision, and that decision will be binding. Unlike court, the arbitration process is much less formal and less expensive.
For more information on family law arbitrations, call or text Robison Smith Law today at (704) 741-0220, email us, or set up your consultation online.
If you are ready to move forward, please contact us now.
We invite you to call or send a text message to (704) 741-0220 or send an email to info@rsfamilylawnc.com
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