Experienced NH Mediation Attorneys.
Hire our firm to mediate and settle legal disputes in New Hampshire family courts.
Litigation can be overwhelming, costly, and time consuming. Mediation is often a much kinder and less expensive alternative to resolve disputes while giving parties more control over the outcome of the resolution.
Family and divorce mediation is a process in which a mediator, an impartial third party, facilitates the resolution of family disputes by promoting the participants’ voluntary agreement.
The third party acts as a “mediator” between the parties by facilitating communication in a non-confrontational atmosphere. The goal of mediation is to resolve the dispute in a manner that promotes reconciliation and settlement. This may often involve compromises between the two parties.
The family mediator assists in communication, encourages understanding and focuses the participants on their individual and common interests. The family mediator works with the participants to explore options, make decisions and reach their own agreements.
Family mediation is not a substitute for the need for family members to obtain independent legal advice or counseling or therapy. Nor is it appropriate for all families. However, experience has established that family mediation is a valuable option for many families because it can:
- increase the self-determination of participants and their ability to communicate;
- promote the best interests of children; and
- reduce the economic and emotional costs associated with the resolution of family disputes.
Effective mediation requires that the family mediator be qualified by training, experience and temperament; that the mediator be impartial; that the participants reach their decisions voluntarily; that their decisions be based on sufficient factual data; that the mediator be aware of the impact of culture and diversity; and that the best interests of children be taken into account. Further, the mediator should also be prepared to identify families whose history includes domestic abuse or child abuse.
Family cases are especially well suited for mediation because the issues are particularly personal and emotional. The fact that mediation gives people the opportunity to be heard and to listen to the perspective of the other party means that couples are often able to work out their differences in productive and collaborative ways that minimize disruption to their lives and, where there are children, to their children’s lives.
Mediation can be used in addressing a wide variety of family law issues, including: divorce, legal separation, child custody, child/spousal support arrangements, disputes over family estates or family businesses, and will contests.