Law & Society

Child custody mediation is a method of arbitration between separating parents which would devise a plan for the care of their children after divorce. This is normally done or completed in the presence of a third party that is completely neutral. Previously, mediation was done privately with the elders of the family getting involved. Now most of the parents are getting the court involved and mediation is performed by the court and its lawyers.
Child custody mediation is quite important for the custody of the child and these negotiations can help the child release some sort of stress which stems out from the divorce. With both parents working together on a plan, the child would feel connected with both of them. During the negotiations, children are also involved and this would help them in the future as they can express their feelings and can decide on which route they want to take. Mediation also gives the children the right, if they are old enough to decide a major decision in their life. Mediation also helps in the relationship of the parents, as history has shown that it reduces child custody battles. It is also a fact that there are more chances of an agreement in mediation than in court litigation Mediation also gives power to the parents on deciding their relationship with the child in the future, unlike litigation where the judge is in command and gives it verdict. Financially, mediation also allows parents to save money that is spent on court cases and litigation.

For parents, approaching mediation with an open mind of settling things is important, without it the talks are bound to fail. Also, parents should not think of their future but should instead concentrate on their child and their relationship with him. During mediation, listening to the mediator is extremely important as without trusting the mediator, things can never move forward. Always come prepared during a mediation session and decide on what points you want to discuss. Parents also need to have very good communication with their child as this would help them understand the needs of the child; after all, the mediation is about the child and not the parents.
Things often become heated during exchanges in mediation; parents should remain calm and focused on the task ahead. The exchanges should be fair and balanced and each side should be heard. All the ideas should be taken into consideration and the meeting should be held with the view of resolving the dispute and not to create a new one.

Selecting a mediator is perhaps the most important aspect of the whole exercise. Before turning to the court for a mediator, it is recommended to find an experienced family elder who should have the expertise and have been involved in previous mediations. Involving a family mediator helps to retain the privacy of the whole process and things can remain in the family. Child custody mediation is a very respectable way of dealing with issues of child custody that arise after a divorce.