Building on the success of their groundbreaking 1988 Divorce Mediation, Folberg et al. now present the latest state-of-the-art, comprehensive resource on family and divorce mediation. Paving the way for the field to establish its own distinct discipline and academic tradition, this authoritative volume offers chapters contributed by leading mediation researchers, trainers, and practitioners. Detailed are the theory behind mediation practice, the contemporary social and political context, and practical issues involved in mediating divorce and custody disputes with contemporary families. Authors also address intriguing questions about professional standards and where the field should go from here. A groundbreaking resource, this volume is indispensable for all mental health and legal professionals working with families in transition.

Describes the divorce mediator's unique mix of legal, psychological, and spiritual perspectives and discusses the ground rules and legal ramifications

Can you really have a civilized divorce without an expensive and stressful court battle? Ending a marriage is always difficult, but it doesn’t need to be fraught with financial or emotional conflict. This book guides you through a negotiated divorce, using alternatives to court, such as divorce mediation or a new approach called, "collaborative divorce."

Although divorce is essentially a matter of personal choice, its emotional aspects are necessarily entwined with legal dynamics, making decisions about divorce a matter of both the heart and the law. Consequently, feelings become facts that must be accommodated in the divorce process in order to reach a viable lasting result. Divorce mediation, an alternative to traditional judicial intervention and third-party decision making, facilitates private negotiation and takes into account emotional as well as legal dimensions of marital dissolution. This process empowers divorcing couples to be actively involved in making the choices that will affect their lives for years to come. The divorce mediator acts as a neutral party who promotes decision making with the family and helps divorcing couples to develop their own parental, financial, and property arrangements. Because divorce mediation views divorce as a multidimensional process that involves both legal and psychological matters, it has attracted professionals from both fields who wish to facilitate a less adversarial approach to the dissolution of a marriage. DIVORCE MEDIATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE fills the currently unmet need for a comprehensive treatment of this burgeoning field. Editors Folberg and Milne, both nationally recognized authorities, have compiled an interdisciplinary state-of-the-art work on divorce resolution. Leading practitioners have contributed chapters which define the theory of divorce mediation, and outline techniques and strategies, as well as ethical considerations and constraints, standards of practice, and policy issues. Current results and forthcoming research findings on such important and controversial matters such as mediation's role in domestic violence disputes are also included. The volume opens with a lucid discussion of theory and practice, the nature of divorce disputes, and methods for achieving settlements. It goes on to offer a detailed overview of the psychological and legal dimensions to be considered. Next, organizational settings in which divorce mediation occurs, namely courts-of-law, private practice, agencies, and organizations are discussed. The implications of divorce mediation for such complex areas of dispute as child custody and financial agreements are vividly conveyed. The process of engaging couples in constructive communication and reducing irrationality is fully explored in the chapters on power balancing, communication strategies, and techniques to break impasses. Legal and ethical issues discussed include liability of divorce mediators, confidentiality and privilege, and standards of practice. The book closes with comprehensive coverage of research results, a longitudinal comparison of mediated versus adversarial divorce, and an in-depth descriptive analysis of common divorce mediation behaviors. This groundbreaking volume brings together a wide range of noted practitioners and researchers in this dynamic discipline to produce the singular interdisciplinary, comprehensive work on this subject to date. DIVORCE MEDIATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE will be an indispensable tool for mediators, therapists, social workers, lawyers, educators and other dispute resolution professionals. It will be of interest to anyone concerned with empowering couples to determine their own mutual and individual responsibilities, and rendering the process of marriage dissolution more cooperative and humane.

Avoid the expense and stress of divorce court Ending a marriage is always difficult, but you don’t have to be financially or emotionally overwhelmed. Through mediation or a collaborative divorce, you can avoid huge legal bills and debilitating conflict with your ex. This book guides you through all the steps of negotiating a divorce settlement, using mediation or collaborative law. Encouraging, straightforward, and inspiring, Divorce Without Court explains mediation and collaborative divorce and shows you how to: choose the right method for your family maximize opportunities for settlement get an agreement in writing find mediators, attorneys, and advisers, and protect your children first, last, and always. Divorce Without Court provides state court websites, contact information for mediation organizations, and clear examples of what you can expect in mediation or collaborative divorce. With Downloadable forms: Get more than 20 forms, including mediation agreements, financial worksheets, and a negotiation checklist— details inside.

Mediating Divorce: A Step-by-Step Manual is written for family law attorneys and therapists who need a comprehensive resource for facilitating the divorce mediation process. Written by Marilyn S. McKnight and Stephen K. Erickson, two widely known pioneers in the field of divorce mediation, this useful guide will show how to implement the techniques needed to be an effective divorce mediator. It includes helpful information for understanding and working through the emotions experienced by people going through a divorce.

Divorce Mediation Manual offers an important resource for anyone contemplating divorce. This manual is meant to positively assist and inform couples engaged in the process of divorce mediation, helping them navigate the process. Divorce mediation is about choosing what to do when a marriage is coming apart, and decisions must be made about whats best for both parties. If there are children involved, the mediation process can become an important process to promote a healthy connection between the parents and the children. In mediation, the couple meets with a neutral third party, the mediator; with his or her help, they work through the issues they need to resolve, so they can end their marriage peacefully, respectfully, and inexpensively. The basic topics to resolve in mediation include the following: Division of assets and debts Child custody and establishing a parenting plan Child support, spousal support, or family support Division of employee/retirement benefits Resolving reimbursement claims Avoiding taxes and defining the tax basis of assets to be divided Divorce Mediation Manual is an effective guide to making the right choices when considering a divorce or engaged in divorce mediation.