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moving forward in a fair and sensible way

9/29/2017

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Divorce mediation helps clients resist the impulse to give in to unreasonable demands just to “get it all over with”.  Most people who decide to get divorced take a while to reach the point where they are ready.  And in many cases, by the time people decide that they are ready to pursue a divorce, they are worn down or overwhelmed.  At Westfield Mediation, LLC, we find that divorcing couples are anxious about how they are going set up a new life.  With all this uncertainty and stress, it can be difficult to work together to create a future plan. 

A key benefit of divorce mediation is that we break the divorce process down into manageable steps, so it is no longer as overwhelming.  Moreover, divorce mediators help you through it, so you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. The mediator’s job is to serve as an impartial guide through an often emotional process.

Divorce mediators ensure that the process is fair and complete – so that both parties’ interests are met. We work with you to avoid the bad agreements that are made when one person gives in just because he or she is tired of arguing.  The mediation sessions focus on the future, rather than on the reasons that the relationship has broken down. Indeed, because the parenting and financial agreements have far-reaching consequences, it is important to think beyond the past and the present to design a plan that will work for both of you and your family going forward.

​For more information about divorce mediation, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M. Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 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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The Internet IS A Wonderful Thing

9/15/2017

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The Internet is a wonderful thing.  You can find almost anything about anything on it.  There is a lot of information out there about divorce.  Many of our clients find us on the Internet. Sometimes clients find us when they were looking for something else regarding their divorce but then stumble across the concept of mediation and are intrigued.  Many people that get divorced really do want mediation but don’t know that they want it because they have never heard of it. But they do want a low cost, more amicable way to get divorced. When I am speaking to someone on the phone for the first time I often ask how they heard of Westfield Mediation, LLC. The caller usually seems embarrassed to admit that they found us on the Internet and sounds relieved when I tell them that many people find us online. 

Once you know that you want to use a divorce mediator the Internet can be useful in finding a good divorce mediator.  It is helpful to look at different mediator’s websites.  This can be a valuable source of practical information but also help you decide who would be a good fit for your needs.  You want to read any available reviews from colleagues and prior clients. You want to find the phone number so you can call and actually speak with your mediator.  Or you may want to send an email to start the process. 

The Internet also helps immensely with communication. One of the key differential factors of mediation versus litigation is that spouses communicate directly with one another instead of through their attorneys.  So email is a tool made for divorce mediation.  It allows the mediator to have a multi-person conversation about scheduling the next meeting, changes to the proposed plan, clarify a question, etc., quickly and directly with both parties at the same time.  There are no hidden conversations.  Everyone is aware of all contact going on.  This helps to build trust and communication skills, things parents will need as they co-parent post-divorce.  There are also divorce apps which help facilitate your post-divorce life. 

So much information is out there.  How did we ever find out stuff before the Internet?
​

For more information about divorce mediation contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M.Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 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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Child support for grown children

9/1/2017

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Most states have a legal limit for “emancipation” – the date when parents are no longer legally required to support their children.  It can be based on an age or on an event like getting married, joining the military or graduating from college.

But, in reality, not all kids are magically able to support themselves once they hit that date.  So how do you create a divorce agreement to cover the expenses for that time period when your kids age out of child support, but are still not financially self-sufficient?

At Westfield Mediation, LLC, we have many divorce mediation clients who continue to support their children in some way after the legal age of emancipation. Sometimes, the divorcing parents still pay for some bills – like those for cell phones, car insurance, health insurance.  In other cases, the kids still live with one parent or the other, rent-free, so the parent is covering both housing and food. 

In each of these scenarios, we help the divorcing parents come to an agreement about how to deal with these ongoing expenses.  In some cases, we may divide the costs between the parties, or put limits on time frames or amounts. Our goal is to create a parenting plan that is fair to both sides and that is financially practical for the family. 

​For more information about parenting plans or divorce mediation, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M. Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 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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