Custody / Visitation Mediation
Mediation is an informal and voluntary conflict resolution process, using a neutral third party mediator or mediation team, who will assist you and the other parties involved in resolving your disputed issues. Mediations are conducted at neutral sites, at times mutually convenient to all, and are confidential - no information presented or discussed during mediation is available to anyone outside the mediation process. Mediation is a free service and can be utilized as many times as required.
The volunteer mediators have completed an extensive training and apprenticeship program as required by the New York State Unified Court, thus assuring you of the highest level of professional service. Mediators use their expertise to guide the process, allowing you to fully explain, define and resolve the issues and then write an agreement that reflects your resolution efforts. If an agreement is reached between the participants at the mediation, and they all desire that agreement to become the court order enforceable by law, the agreement will be handed in to Court for review. If the Family Court Judge finds the agreement acceptable, the Judge will sign the order and it will become a court order.
The purpose of mediation is to help you work out a lasting solution to your conflict and can be in the form of a verbal agreement, informal written agreement or an agreement submitted to Family Court for the Judges review. Agreements are written during your mediation, so that the participants can review, approve and receive a copy.
Either participant can bring outside parties to the mediation, but that outside party must be approved by the other participant. If both participants do not approve of including another party, the other party will not be allowed to observe and participate in the mediation.