Single Issue Mediation Can Help With Divorce

For New Jersey couples with children, a typical divorce mediation process will cover four major areas of agreement: parenting plans, equitable distribution, NJ child support and spousal support / alimony but did you know that a NJ divorce mediator can also help couples peacefully settle their differences by mediating a single issue?  In certain cases, a full mediation is not required and couples who wish to use the services of a mediator in NJ can still benefit from getting help with a particularly vexing issue.  Below you will find some reasons to use single issue mediation in your divorce.

1. Parenting Plans – for most couples, parenting plans are the one area we get agreement and that’s why this NJ divorce mediator starts with the parenting plan as my first topic of discussion.  It’s a great way to “get off to a good start” by showing couples they can agree on things and it sets the tone for future mediation session. However there are times when the issue of custody is hotly contested (especially post divorce or with older children) and a couple needs the help of a NJ divorce mediator like me.
2. Equitable Distribution – while it seems simple on the surface, equitable distribution is one of those areas that is deceptively complex. The splitting of assets and liabilities requires someone with both a of knowledge of divorce law as well as finance as there are serious tax implications if things aren’t properly documented and negotiated.  As a NJ divorce mediator with an MBA in finance, I know how important this is.  Couples who are small business owners, have complex investment portfolios or perhaps significant investments, can benefit by sitting with a mediator in NJ like me and mediating this single issue.
3. Child Support – of all the issues, NJ child support is the one I get the most calls about when it comes to single issue mediation as it is critical to ensure that your children get the resources they need in order to grow and flourish.  The formula for child support in New Jersey is so complex that even a NJ divorce mediator with an MBA in finance like me uses a software program to calculate it!  What’s included and what’s excluded as well as how does NJ child support change as children get older is a topic of much conversation and one a mediator in NJ can help greatly with.
4. Spousal Support (formerly known as Alimony) – here in New Jersey there is no set formula for spousal support and therefore, the conversations surrounding alimony are often heated and emotional since they are based less in law and more in conversation.  With the help of a NJ divorce mediator you and your partner can sit down and have a rational conversation about what an appropriate amount of spousal support might be by working through an organized and efficient process led by an Accredited Professional Mediator like me.

If you have any questions about divorce mediation in NJ using mediation for divorce or how hiring a NJ divorce mediator can benefit you, please feel free to contact Equitable Mediation Services to schedule a consultation in one of our Northern or Central New Jersey office locations.  Or feel free to visit the Equitable Mediation Services website where you’ll find lots of great information about parenting plans, equitable distribution, NJ child support and spousal support / alimony and contact us when you’re ready.