What is Mediation?
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Mediation is a facilitated negotiation process, where a neutral third party (the mediator) assists you and your spouse to reach an agreement. The mediator does not make a decision. You can terminate the process at any time. Mediation is confidential. When a settlement is reached, it only becomes binding when you sign a formal written agreement. It is strongly recommended that each of you have independent legal advice. Your lawyer can attend mediation with you or can advise you from the sidelines.
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Our Role in Mediation
Since a mediator must be neutral, a professional from Savia Legal PC could act either as your mediator OR your lawyer, but we cannot provide you with both. Tamara is an experienced mediator. If you retain us to provide mediation services, we can refer you to excellent "mediation-friendly" lawyers to provide you and your spouse independent legal advice. If you retain us as your advice lawyer, and you wish to use a mediation process, we can refer you to a trusted mediation colleague from outside of our firm.
Next Steps
- Both you and your (former) spouse or co-parent need to contact us to start the process as it requires voluntary participation by both of you.
- Our intake coordinator will book each of you for an individual (confidential) intake meeting with the mediator. Each of you will need to attend your own intake meeting, held either virtually or in person. We charge a set block fee for the intake meeting. Each client pays for their own intake meeting.
Following the intake meetings, assuming you have agreed to move forward, you will sign a Mediation Contract, setting out the rules for the process and our terms of service. You will then begin to attend joint mediation session(s) where the mediator will guide and facilitate the real work of developing a written agreement resolving your issues. Depending on the nature of your matter, the agreement may take the form of a Separation Agreement, Amending Agreement, Parenting Plan, Cohabitation Agreement, Marriage Contract, or other. You will be strongly encouraged (but not forced) to obtain independent legal advice.