“This article has been produced by an independent contributor and does not reflect the views and opinions of the Immediation team or the brand as a whole.”
Negotiating the terms to a custody agreement can be difficult especially when both parents intend to play an active role in the child’s life. From discussing living arrangements to health and finances, there are a lot of technicalities that need to be addressed. Often times, certain arrangements may be overlooked by both parties when deciding to move into the next chapter given the overwhelm.
When it comes to family law involving children, courts will almost always encourage mediation first. And in the majority of cases, mediation works.
This is because the nature of mediation is facilitative and cooperative whereby the mediator creates an environment that helps both parties work together in finding an amicable solution. After all, the goal of custody mediation is for both parties to come to an agreement that can be used as a Parenting Plan or turned into a Consent Order as approved by the Courts.
How does child custody mediation work?
Custody mediation is directed in a manner that always puts the child’s best interest first. The mediator acts as an impartial facilitator to the process, helping both parties find a middle ground that is practical, acceptable, and is in the best interest of the children.
To make custody arrangement mediation work, both parties have to enter into the mediation process with an open mind, eagerness to listen and the will to develop a mutually amicable agreement.
The priority has to be placed on the will to come up with a custody arrangement( and therefore the mediation should focus on solving parenting hurdles than making it a platform to bring up marital issues.
The most common areas that can be resolved in child custody mediation include matters such as living arrangements or relocation, education, religion, child support, health issues, time arrangements between parents, school holiday arrangements, overseas travel, payment division of extracurricular activities, and so on.
What are the advantages of custody mediation?
Unlike the court process, the massive advantage of mediating your custody arrangements is in the ability to be creative with the outcome. Court processes tend to be very straightforward and literal, based on precedent. In mediation, you have the ability to negotiate a settlement that works beyond conventional means.
Mediation is also quicker in resolving custody agreements due to the absence of legal technicalities and court document processing – with online mediation taking the trophy with fast resolution times as quick as 30 days. Beyond speed, the advantages of mediation include cost effectiveness, being less stressful due to the cooperative nature of the process, and being more in control of the outcome of the custody arrangement as opposed of relying on the uncertainties of a court proceeding.
With online mediation, the advantages associated with traditional mediation are taken even further with further cost cuts, flexible schedules working outside conventional work hours, quicker turnaround times, absence of a need for logistics and travel, and the ease of communications through a modern, digital platform.
Get in touch with Immediation today and find out how we can help you mediate your custody agreement.
References
https://www.familyrelationships.gov.au/separation/family-mediation-dispute-resolution