Divorce & family MEDIATION

emotional, financial and legal

Divorce is a major life event, with drastic effects on the persons involved. On the ex-partners, and also children, friends, finances and family relationships are affected. People who enter into divorce find themselves in a grieving process, very similar to the loss of loved ones.

Beside the emotional side, practical matters need to be arranged, both financial as well as legal. Mediators - like me - help to run this process run smoothly and with dignity. And a good mediator ensures that the change (shift) from partners to (if there are children) to parents is properly done.

advantage over litigation

Because mediators are trained in guiding human processes, there is also attention for a due 'closing' of the relationship. Advantage: this ensures that ex-partners communicate about children, home or finances and it ensures more peace in the future.

choose: mediation vs litigation

Hard fought divorces and custody battles (‘vechtscheidingen’), where parties enter into extensive litigation have negative effects for years. Children will be become entangled in the arguments, future discussions about for example costs of the children or new circumstances, such as future partners and so forth shall remains difficult.

process

If you decide to sit down together and do you have the intention to work it out together with a mediator, the process is as follows.

Start: mediation starts with the intake conversation and signing of the mediation agreement. The mediation is in Dutch or English for expats. We are based in Amsterdam. The mediator will facilitate conversations between the party and it is to be noted that mediation is not relationship therapy - the intention of parties is the separate their marriage. Length of each conversation is 1.5-2 hours. Often 3-5 sessions shall be sufficient (excluding more complicated situations). Conversations are face to face, preferably at the offices of exploreMediation in Amsterdam.

Next: The mediator will draw up two documents: divorce agreement (including alimony arrangements) and, if children are involved the parenting plan. Filings will be made at the registry, for the divorce to be made official.

Costs

A divorce through mediation is cheaper and often shorter than divorce through Court proceedings.  Contact me for an estimate.

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