MEDIATION ASSISTANCE

Ms. McKinley offers legal assistance to clients attending mediation.

 

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which one impartial professional will assist you and your spouse/partner in resolving the issues related to your divorce, break-up or separation. Mediators facilitate communication, and will help you and your spouse/partner discuss your financial and parenting matters until agreement is reached. Mediators do not provide legal advice.

 

Working with an attorney during the mediation process can be helpful in many ways. A consulting attorney can meet with you before and after mediation sessions to:

• Answer your questions about the law, and help you understand your rights
• Explain and clarify legal concepts raised by your spouse/partner or the mediator
• Work with you to create a list of items requiring discussion
• Help you gather and analyze the financial information that may be relevant to your situation
• Explore alternative solutions with you
• Prepare the legal documents needed
  • separation agreement
  • divorce papers
  • orders dividing retirement accounts
  • deeds
  • other legal papers
• Review the legal papers prepared by your spouse/partner’s attorney

 

If you and your spouse/partner are going to use mediation, the best time to hire a consulting lawyer is before mediation begins, but you can begin working with an attorney at any time. Consulting attorneys do not usually attend mediation sessions with you, but can do so if permitted by the mediator and agreed to by your spouse/partner. Ms. McKinley will act as attorney for only one spouse/partner, not both. If both spouses/partners desire legal assistance, a second attorney should be hired.