Friday, February 17, 2023

MEDIATING YOUR DIVORCE THROUGH ONLINE TECHNOLOGY: IT WORKS

 



MEDIATING YOUR DIVORCE THROUGH ONLINE TECHNOLOGY: IT WORKS

by Robyn Weisman, Esq.


           


The coronavirus pandemic caused significant changes in the lives of all of us. More and more people had to go virtual, in business, in the court system, with friends and family, and especially with divorce cases. But since the pandemic and life has opened up, we have found in divorce and separation cases, virtual divorce mediation works!

Between our demanding jobs, managing the household, and if you have children, the kids' homework, and activities, we are stretched thin. Now add a divorce process into the mix. Online divorce mediation works for a number of reasons.

Convenience:

Online divorce mediation allows people to participate from anywhere. I have had clients, as well as myself as the mediator, be on vacation, business conferences, or travelling for any reason still participate in the mediations.



Parties who are living in different locations geographically can still attend mediations. The ability to mediate while not physically together is also helpful in cases that involve fear or apprehension of being in the same room.



Time efficiency and Cost savings:



Not only does online divorce mediation save the time of travel for all of those concerned, you can now be in the comfort of your own home or office. All you need is a computer, phone or ipad!



Hours:

Because mediation can be done from home, virtual mediation does not need to be restricted by traditional business hours. In my practice, we have added nights and weekends for convenience.



Privacy:

We take the process seriously in terms of privacy and in that regard, the mediator who hosts the meeting requires the parties to wait in a virtual waiting room when they sign on. The mediator then allows them each and only them to enter the video conference. Uninvited guests cannot inadvertently join in.

How does it work?

Very similar to mediations face-to-face a highly skilled, neutral mediator, will help you and your spouse through our divorce mediation process where he or she will help you identify, discuss, negotiate and resolve all of the issues required for your uncontested divorce including parenting plan (formerly known as child custody), child support, if you have children, spousal support if any, and the division of marital property.

But instead of the three of you sitting in the same room together, the two of you will be in your own separate location(s) and connect with your mediator via phone, computer or iPad.

Why Mediation?

Mediation is a process which can be helpful for both parties to have their views heard by a third-party mediator who is neutral and who can be completely objective.

Other benefits of mediation include the fact that it is often less expensive than each party hiring an attorney and fighting over the dispute in court, and in most cases, it is also much less time-consuming. Mediation sessions also tend to be more flexible and less stressful for all involved than having disputes resolved in court. With an attorney who is a mediator you can save a great deal of money and time in the process.

Mediation can also be helpful and beneficial for couples who have begun the process of obtaining a divorce but have not finalized the divorce yet. A mediator can help you and your spouse find solutions to parenting issues and newly arising areas of dispute.

The mutual goal: to finalize the divorce without spending a fortune on legal fees or becoming enemies. It will work! Find a mediator who you are comfortable with and who knows the law. And you will find the kindler, gentler way to separate or divorce.

Robyn D. Weisman, Esq., Attorney, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer, Director of Divorce Mediation & Family Services of New York, Ltd. 1-631-465-2140 with offices in Nassau, Suffolk and New York Counties.

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