Tips for a Successful Child Custody Mediation

Child custody mediation is less conflict-driven and more focused on the best interests of your children. But the process still requires your faith and cooperation.

Here are tips on conducting a successful child custody mediation.

• Be prepared: You want to outline your hopes and goals for a co-parenting arrangement. But do not forget self-care. Get a full night’s sleep the night before the mediation and eat and hydrate regularly. You are less likely to let emotions take over if you take care of yourself.
• Do not bring up marital issues: Child custody mediation is not general divorce mediation. Your marital problems don’t matter. Keep the focus on custody and parenting time.
• Manage emotions: As stated above, eat, sleep, and take care of yourself to make the emotional part easier. You will manage emotions better during a heated discussion if you cover those steps. Child custody mediation is not the time to explode and unload all your negative emotions on the other parent. Doing that sabotages the mediation process and places you further away from solutions.
• Do not tolerate abuse: If you are leaving an abusive marriage, mediation may not suit you. There are too many instances where a spouse agrees to terms because they fear retribution. However, if you still want to mediate rather than divorce, see if a mediator will see you and your spouse in separate sessions. It will cost more, but the results may be worth it.
• Remember your options: You do not have to reluctantly agree to terms due to fear or exhaustion. Child custody arrangements are difficult to change once implemented, and you may face the impacts for decades. Even if mediation only narrows down the issues to litigate, it is still a success.

If you believe child custody mediation is the right approach for you and your spouse, contact the experienced Long Island divorce lawyers at Solutions Divorce Mediation.