Family Law and Denver Divorce Mediation

Laura Shapiro, founder, and principal of Shapiro Family Law performs divorce mediation in Denver and practices in the area of divorce and family law. Shapiro knows how to navigate the Denver divorce mediation process to resolve disputes and is a top-rated family law attorney in Colorado.

If you want divorce mediation services through a highly ranked, well-established law firm with experienced attorneys, call Shapiro Family Law today. We serve clients throughout the state from our Denver-based office. Call us at 303-695-0200 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated divorce mediation and family law attorneys.

How Mediation Fits in With Family Law

In the confidential divorce mediation process, a neutral third party called a mediator helps you and your spouse settle divorce-related issues.

Settlement can include contentious topics like child support, child custody, division of marital property, and debt. The mediator focuses on what you and your spouse want to accomplish through this dispute resolution method. We believe a successful divorce mediation can result in a more amicable divorce.

Mediation Can Help You Stay out of a Courtroom

We cannot overstate the importance of divorce mediation during your pre-divorce or post-divorce proceeding. If you attend mediation, the divorce mediator can save you time and money. It can also keep you from waiting for a court to schedule a hearing to discuss your issues in a public courtroom.

Choosing to follow this process from the beginning saves you from the hassle and distress of Court while preserving civility between you and your spouse. The Court will require mediation.

How the Divorce Mediation Process Works

You and your spouse will attend a series of half-day or full-day mediation sessions with an experienced mediator. You may choose to have an attorney present during the entire process if you believe you need the advice of a legal consultant. Your mediator will not offer legal advice or testify in your court case.

During each session, you will discuss the issues you want to be resolved. For instance, if you have dependent children, you and your spouse may want to work through questions, such as:

• Which parent pays child support?
• Should we sell the house or let the children stay in their current home?
• How do we equitably divide our joint financial accounts and debt?
• Who makes the car payments?

We encourage you to bring financial documents and other relevant data related to the issues you want to resolve. Settlement offers remain confidential in mediation unless both parties agree to the terms and sign the offer. The mediator will help you seek a compromise on these matters in a professional manner.

If you reach an agreement on your outstanding issues, Shapiro Family Law can assist you by drafting a Memorandum of Understanding to memorialize the terms and submit it to the Court. Once we submit this divorce agreement and receive approval from the Court, your mediation agreement becomes an order. A failure to reach agreements in mediation means a judge will decide your contested issues.

The Difference Between the Mediation Process and Litigating Your Case

Reaching your own decisions in mediation prevents you from having to litigate your differences in Court. This keeps you from relying on a judge to make decisions for you and your family. Mediation and litigation have some similarities and some major differences. For example, in courtroom litigation:

• Lawyers represent clients on either side; A judge makes decisions on each issue;
• The court schedules cases, which may drag out the process, depending on the Court’s schedule;
• You are likely to see more contentious debates and emotional stress for everyone involved;
• and couples have to appear in Court for a hearing;
• You have less control over outcomes in your case;

In mediation, however:

• Each side may have his or her attorney;
• Both parties negotiate their issues through a neutral mediator;
• Both sides must compromise;
• Couples and the mediator set their own schedules, which moves the process forward more efficiently;
• Each party handles tough issues more amicably, placing less stress on the spouses and any children involved;
• and Couples do not have to appear in Court.

If you want to avoid the stress and difficulty of navigating a court case, you need to consider the mediation process. Our attorneys can help you understand how to begin and answer any questions you have about what comes next.

Let Us Help You Move Forward After a Divorce

We will explain the importance of mediation and how it benefits you and your spouse. Since mediation provides one of the best opportunities for you to reach an amicable settlement with your spouse, we ensure that the mediator selected is the right person for your divorce case and the issues presented.

In our years of experience in divorce and family law, we recognize that not all couples will benefit from mediation. This is particularly true for those in contested divorces who would prefer having a court resolve their issues. In this case, we can help you litigate your divorce and allow a judge to decide your case.

We Have the Experience You Need to Resolve Your Case in Mediation

Shapiro Family Law has significant experience in reaching successful resolutions during the divorce process through mediation. Our law firm provides professional mediation services, but only if we are not currently representing you. For more information about our mediation services, call our office at 303-695-0200, or contact us online. If you have questions about mediation, we have answers.

Besides mediation, we handle divorce and family law cases. To find out more about our legal services and the most appropriate way we can help in resolving your legal matters, contact us today. We represent clients in the Denver area and throughout Colorado.