What To Expect At A Family Mediation Session

When we prepare for a mediation session, we want to give you a clear picture of what will happen. As a law firm, Attorney Bernie helps many clients resolve family issues through mediation. Our goal here is to help you know what to bring, how to behave, and what the outcomes might be. Contact our Stanislaus County, CA family lawyer to learn how we can help!

Before The Session

We’ll ask you to gather documents ahead of time. These might include financial records (bank statements, pay stubs, debts), property or asset information, custody schedules, and anything else related to your issue. Having these organized makes the meeting more productive.

We also recommend that you think in advance about what you want to achieve. What are your priorities? What are you willing to compromise on? It helps if you know both your ideal outcome and a fallback plan. Our attorney brings over a decade of experience in helping families through mediation and disputes of all kinds.

During The Session

We start with introductions. The mediator explains the ground rules: respectful communication, confidentiality, and the fact that all offers are informal unless written down, etc. Then each party has a chance to share their side.

We may use a joint session (everyone together) or private sessions (each side alone with the mediator). Private sessions allow airing concerns you may not feel comfortable raising in front of the other person. Our team understands that there isn’t always a one-size-fits-all solution, so we can help you and your family members explore options.

After The Session

If you reach an agreement, our team will put the agreement in writing. It may need to be reviewed by your attorneys and then submitted to the court to become enforceable. If you don’t fully agree, you may set follow-up sessions or go back to court. It’s not unusual to leave mediation without agreement on every point.

We always prioritize confidentiality, and our attorney, Bernie J. Kempen, will fight hard to serve the best interests of you and your family members. What is said doesn’t get used against you in court, unless laws require disclosure (for example, threats or abuse). Making sure you speak freely can improve the chances of reaching an agreement.

Tips To Make Mediation Go Smoothly

There are certain expectations to know when meeting with our attorney, and to improve the mediation process, we recommend the following tips:

• Be honest in the session. Hidden information tends to lead to an impasse later.
• Listen actively. Hearing the other side’s concerns can reveal shared interests.
• Keep emotions under control. Not easy, but staying calm helps conversations stay productive.
• Be open to compromise, but don’t give up things that are very important to you.
• Use your attorney’s guidance. We can help you evaluate whether proposed terms are fair and legally valid.

Different family issues like child custody or divorce can quickly escalate into legal headaches, but our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions. Contact us today at Attorney Bernie to discover how we can help!