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Mediation is a transformative process

5/29/2015

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The people who walk into Westfield Mediation, LLC, are not the same people who walk out at the end of divorce mediation.  We see it time and time again.  Divorce mediation is a transformative process.  Each individual person seems to change and how the people function as a couple changes as well.  As professional divorce mediators, we see this happen all the time.  However, it is hard to convince the people who hesitantly start the process that mediation can work and have a successful outcome.  They just don’t see how they can work with the other person.  By the end, they are so pleased that they stuck with mediation. While at first s/he thought the other party or their relationship as a couple was just too dysfunctional to be able to work together.  But mediation, as a process, helps to transform individuals and couples. 

The angry, loud couple is able to be civil and speak to one another about important decisions.  The sad, non-communicative person is able to assert him/herself and feel good about decisions s/he is making about the future.  Having a neutral, third party involved changes the dynamic of the couple and the process.  Mediation allows both parties to have input and be heard.  Mediation can succeed in addressing the same issues that you discuss when sitting at your kitchen table.  However, when it is just the two of you, the conversation often regresses into that same old fight again.  Mediation moves you out of the past and towards your new future.

Mediation can help you focus on all that you agree on, rather than focus on the one or two issues that you can’t seem to resolve.  Success begets success.  When you realize how well you are doing you are able to tackle the few remaining difficult issues with newfound confidence in yourself and the process.  This leads to more success and resolution in all areas of the divorce, (parenting plan, distribution of assets and debt, alimony, child support).

For more information about Divorce Mediation contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, LMFT, at Westfield Mediation, LLC, at 908.913.0373.  View our website at www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at info@westfieldnjmediation.com

 

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housing and divorce

5/15/2015

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Spring is traditionally the best time to sell a house.  And many people consider getting divorced in the spring, because they want to sell their house as part of the process.  For many divorcing couples, their house is their biggest asset, and they want to maximize their potential profits, as they make a financial plan for their future. 

At Westfield Mediation, LLC, we always have our divorce mediation clients get a market evaluation of their home to determine how much equity they have in their house.  Then, we consider what would make the most sense financially, and for the emotional needs of the family. 

Selling the house is just one option. In some cases, instead of selling the house right away, the divorcing couple decides that one parent will remain in the home with the children until they finish high school. Such an approach may minimize the stress on the kids, by allowing them to stay in one place.

In these scenarios, the divorcing couple must decide how they will continue to pay for the house, including the mortgage, taxes, home insurance, and potential repairs, over this time period. The family also will need enough funds so that the parent who moves out can maintain his/her own separate household.  Finally, the couple has to decide how they will divide the proceeds from the house once it is sold.  At Westfield Mediation, LLC, we know that each family has its own specific financial and emotional needs, and through divorce mediation, we can tailor a plan to fit them.

For more information about dividing assets in divorce mediation or divorce mediation in general, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, LMFT, at Westfield Mediation, LLC, at 908.913.0373.  View our website at www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at info@westfieldnjmediation.com


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Health insurance options and divorce

5/1/2015

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Insurance companies are able to provide insurance to an employee and his/her family members.  An ex-spouse is no longer a family member and eligible for coverage.  If you are in the process of getting a divorce then you need to plan for how you will have health insurance once your divorce is finalized.  At Westfield Mediation, LLC, we help our clients figure out this concern during the divorce mediation process.

No one wants you to go without health insurance, so you do have options. The soon-to-be-uninsured can keep the same coverage as when s/he was married if s/he is able to pay for COBRA coverage.  You are eligible for COBRA coverage for a maximum of 36 months from the date the divorce is finalized.  However, COBRA can be extremely expensive and cost prohibitive.  Some spouses are able to obtain health insurance from his/her own employer.  Perhaps you did not pursue this option before because you had better coverage through your spouse’s employer.  Divorce is considered a life-altering event, and you can opt in to health insurance after the divorce even if it is not during open enrollment.  If insurance is not an option through employment, then you can enroll in Obamacare.  Again, because divorce is a life-altering event, you do not have to wait until open enrollment for your coverage to begin. 

The cost of the newly acquired health insurance is something that can be negotiated during divorce mediation.  You need to do your research, find out various costs and investigate your options. We have had couples agree that the employed spouse would pay for the COBRA coverage for three years while the unemployed spouse looked for a job.  We have also had couples agree to an initial increase in spousal support to help offset the cost of acquiring health insurance.  A mediator can help you figure out what works best for your situation, so no one has to be uninsured. 

For more information about divorce mediation contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, LMFT, at Westfield Mediation, LLC, at 908.913.0373.  View our website at www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at info@westfieldnjmediation.com. 


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    Authors

    Michelle Weinberg, M.Ed.,LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with many years of experience working with couples.

    Randi M. Albert, JD, is an attorney with experience in family law and public service.

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