| RELATIONSHIP
AND INTERPERSONAL ISSUES
Today's
demanding lifestyles and complex culture causes incredible stress
on you and others in your life. Misunderstandings and communication
problems are common complaints among coworkers, friends, siblings
and family members. Mediation can be a process of discovering
realistic and long-lasting solutions to all types of issues, such
as:
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Interpersonal
conflicts
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Divorce, teens, family Issues
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Communication difficulties
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Co-parenting issues, including blended families and step-parenting.
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Finances, money management problems
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Grandparents having authority to make parenting decisions
and
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Grandparents having visitation schedules.
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Children with special needs.
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Child behaviors, truancy and discipline. |
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RESOURCES
At
ACCORD Mediation Services, we are sensitive to the effects of
emotional stress resulting from unresolved issues with others.
That is why we make available to our clients ACCORD’s network
of professionals who are prepared to assist you. For the Christian,
Catholic and faith-based communities, our network includes counselors
who understand that dynamics of biblical and church teachings
in relationships. For divorce clients facing issues involving
drugs, alcohol, addictions, depression and abuse, our network
includes therapists who are certified to provide help. For our
clients who have not yet retained legal counsel, but need legal
advice, our network includes divorce lawyers who practice in various
areas of law. And, for clients who need financial guidance, our
network includes divorce financial planners, tax professionals,
credit counselors, insurance brokers, bankers and realtors to
provide assistance and advice.
In
addition, the following links may offer some additional information
for your particular situation:
RECONCILIATION
When
couples are facing a crossroad in their relationship, a number
of emotions take over.
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Anger |
Panic |
Revenge |
Betrayal |
Pain
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Injured
Pride |
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Fear
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Sadness |
Numbness |
Devastation |
Depression |
Uncertainty |
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These
emotions are normal. However, overwhelming emotions can impair
your ability to communicate effectively.
It can also impair your ability to make sound decisions that will
affect the rest of your life. You can do something about it by
using mediation. Different than counseling or therapy, mediation
helps couples map out what they want in their relationship and
put into action steps ways to reach their ultimate desires.
MARITAL
SEPARATION
Sometimes
married couples grow emotionally apart. The demands of a career,
the responsibilities of parenting, or the pressure of making financial
ends meet causes a spouse to become withdrawn, unhappy, depressed.
Alcohol and drug use, overspending, or infidelity can be the result.
A physical separation can be a possible solution for those couples
who are facing a crossroad in their marriage. Since a filed separation
agreement can be revoked in certain circumstances when couples
reconcile, mediation can help couples, in the meantime, protect
themselves legally and financially. Similar to divorce mediation,
couples discuss how their children will be parented, how their
finances will be addressed, and how their assets and debts will
be distributed while each spouse is living separately and apart
from one another.
DIVORCE
The
stress and confusion associated with the ending of a marriage
can be overwhelming. All at once, there are many decisions to
be made about your future. Divorce mediation is a more affordable
and efficient alternative to a costly legal battle. See the article,
Divorce:
The First of Many Decisions, by Carolyn Bryson.
Benefits
Divorce
mediation enables families to stay in control of the decision-making
process regarding child custody, parenting and holiday schedules,
parenting arrangements, child support, alimony, money management,
finances, and the equitable distribution of marital property and
debt division.
• The mediation process encourages research and consultation
with professionals
• Individuals are better
prepared to financially support themselves and their children
after divorce
• The process focuses on
keeping what you have, rather than losing
• A written agreement details
the terms of the divorce that you decide in mediation
If
your matter involves a spouse who is in the military, is a self-employed
business owner, or has pensions and/or retirement funds, ACCORD
mediators are prepared to help you both address the uniqueness
and complexities of these circumstances.
Fees
For
family and divorce related matters, there are no retainer fees.
Designed to be "pay as you go", our clients find our
sliding scale rates to be very affordable, when compared with
traditional, litigated divorces. Paid at the conclusion of each
session, the hourly rate is divided in whatever manner clients
decide in advance. Timelines vary from case to case. Please phone
us for more information.
Agreement
At
the conclusion of the mediation process, clients will be provided
with a document referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The MOU will include decisions that you made about matters concerning::
• Real
estate, retirement and other property division
• Debt
division, budget, health insurance, income tax, and life insurance
• Child
custody, residency and parent decision-making arrangements
• Parenting
schedule and holiday arrangements
• Child
Support and financial arrangements for college, extra-curricular
activities, and uninsured medical expenses
• Spousal
Maintenance (alimony)
POSTNUPTIAL
AGREEMENT
A
postnuptial agreement is a legally binding contract between spouses
in the event of death or divorce. For spouses who have received
an inheritance or gift, or simply prefer to protect assets and
income, mediation affords couples an opportunity to capture their
intentions in writing and in the form of a legally binding contract.
PRENUPTIAL
AGREEMENT
Before
"tying the knot", mediation is an option for any party
who wants to avoid the risk of a major loss of assets, income,
or a family business in the event of a separation or divorce.
People marrying for a second or third time also might desire to
make sure that certain assets or personal belongings are passed
on to the children or grandchildren of prior marriages rather
than to a current spouse.
PALIMONY
or LIVING TOGETHER AGREEMENT
Unmarried
couples do not have the same protection under New York State Domestic
Relations Law as do married couples. When purchasing real estate,
opening joint bank accounts or credit cards, unmarried couples
face considerable risk in the event of a relationship break-up.
Mediation is an ideal way for unmarried couples to have discussions
and reach agreements about protecting their interests in the event
that their relationship ends.
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