Family Mediation Legal Services
Attorney Erica M. Foster is a licensed mediator in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who has been focusing her practice in family law for more than 20 years. As a certified mediator, she understands the sensitive nature of legal proceedings involving family members and offers mediation in her Danvers and Woburn, Massachusetts, offices.
Erica’s mediation services provide you with guidance and options for setting realistic goals, making informed decisions and moving forward to a new chapter in your life. Mediation is available for all types of family law cases, including but not limited to divorce, custody, parenting plans, child support, asset division and alimony.
What Are The Specific Benefits Of Mediation?
Mediation is an informal, voluntary, flexible process where a neutral person – the mediator – helps you negotiate. Mediation encourages the parties to be attentive, respectful and honest with one another. Erica’s role as a mediator is to work with both parties while you speak directly to one another about your goals and interests and to help you reach an agreement that both of you want. As a result, your communication with the other party may improve, you will save time and money, and you will avoid the difficulties and uncertainty of the court process. With mediation, you decide how much or how little time you want the process to take.
How Much Does Mediation Cost?
Mediation is billed by the hour and is much less expensive than going through litigation. Most sessions, except for the introductory meeting, are two hours, and you can expect to spend at least three to five sessions to resolve the matter. With mediation, you pay as you go and do not need a retainer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mediation
Choosing mediation is a smart way to handle a divorce, reducing stress and lowering costs. Here, you will find answers to frequently asked questions about divorce mediation.
How does divorce mediation work in Massachusetts?
Divorce mediation is a process where both spouses meet with a neutral third party to reach an agreement on important issues. These include child custody, property division, alimony and child support. Mediation focuses on joint problem-solving. The mediator helps you find common interests so you can reach a negotiated settlement that feels fair to both sides.
Do we still need to go to court if we use a mediator?
Yes, but the experience is very different from a trial. Once you reach an agreement, you must present it to the Probate and Family Court so a judge can review and approve it. The goal of using mediation is to turn your private agreement into an official court order. You are not finished until the judge signs off on the paperwork, but having a complete agreement usually makes the court visit much shorter and simpler.
What happens if we cannot agree on certain terms during mediation?
In Massachusetts, mediation does not have to be an “all or nothing” situation. If you agree on some things but not others, you can still use mediation to settle parts of your case, like your parenting plan or who gets the house. For the few areas where you truly cannot agree, you can ask a judge to decide those specific issues in court. This still saves you time and money compared to fighting over every single detail.
An Experienced, Licensed Mediator You Can Trust
Having the right attitude going into mediation can help resolve your family law disputes quicker and make the legal process go smoother. Contact attorney Erica M. Foster today to schedule your free initial consultation. Call 978-605-4105 or complete the online form for a prompt response.