By Ellen Barron Feldman (efeldman@celandassociates.com) As a mediator and a collaborative attorney, I have been doing co-mediation exclusively by zoom since March 2020. The context is unsettling at best. Couples are together in their homes, trying to home-school their children, wondering if they will be losing their jobs or able to pay the mortgage, not
A Chicago prenuptial agreement can establish an agreement between an engaged couple in contemplation of marriage. This agreement spells out how the couple will handle certain matters, such as how their assets, debts and incomes will be handled and what will happen if they get divorced or one of them dies. Knowing the basics of
Just because a couple has decided that they no longer want to stay together does not mean that they must battle out their case in court. This includes if they have “irreconcilable differences.” A divorce mediator in Chicago helps a couple have a smoother transition into divorce. A divorce mediator in Chicago helps the parties
Divorce mediation in Chicago is an alternative way of handling a divorce. Rather than battling the case out in court, the parties collaborate and move toward a peaceful resolution of their case. Since divorce mediation in Chicago is not as common as litigated cases, confusion sometimes surrounds the process. Some misunderstandings include: Mediation is Only
Divorce mediation in Chicago is a peaceful alternative to the typical adversarial process involved in a litigated divorce. In mediation, parties work out legal issues, including custody decisions, living arrangements, property division, spousal support and child support. Parties turn to divorce mediation in Chicago because it is usually faster and cheaper than litigating the case.
Parties who are looking to end their marriage in an amicable fashion and to avoid costly litigation often turn to a divorce mediator in Chicago. A mediator is an objective third party who helps guide discussions and facilitates communication between the parties with the ultimate objective being to reach a settlement in the case. A
In a typical mediation session, the parties are often told to focus on their interests in order to work out a solution. They may exchange a provision that they do not care about as leverage for a provision that they do care about. A family mediator in Chicago can explain that parents have a more
What Nobody Tells You About Being an Adult Child of Divorce Right before my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, an adult close to their relationship told my dad that he needed to get a divorce. That “adult” was none other than me, his then-22-year-old daughter. My dad’s relationship with my mom had started souring
In my last blog post I suggested that sending mediation clients off to separate attorneys was not being helpful. In response to this proposition one reader, an attorney and mediator from California, suggested that I had a low opinion of attorneys. I hope not. I have been a proud member
I’ve faced many difficult moments in my life. Who hasn’t? But preparing to tell my son that I will be divorcing his father was absolutely one of the worst. The emotions surging through my body were overwhelming. Deep, gut-wrenching fear. Continuous anxiety. Incredible guilt. And the oppressive weight of shame. My son, after all, was
