The Divorce Mediation Handbook: Everything You Need to Know - Paperback

by Paula D. James (Author)

A FriAndlier and Less Expensive Divorce

Clients arriving in your office are usually confused about whatmediation means, their legal rights, and how it's all going to besorted out. You spAnd a good deal of your time just trying toeducate them enough to proceed.

The Divorce Mediation Handbook does much of this work for you. Itexplains the mediation procedure and reassures your clients thatthey can indeed work out their divorce in a reasonable and civilmanner in mediation. It also gives them a great deal of informationabout

* how children respond to divorce
* how property issues are addressed
* how future support may be considered
* how to prepare for mediation

Paula James, who has mediated over 600 divorces, offers thedivorcing couple an encouraging and highly informative book toprepare them for your first session and the work ahead.

Front Jacket

The Divorce Mediation Handbook provides a step-by-step guide through the supportive process of divorce mediation. Unlike the traditional divorce litigation which can be adversarial and costly, mediation helps the couple go through this transition with mutual respect, the best interests of the children at the forefront, and legal fees at a minimum. Author Paula James, an expert in the field of divorce mediation, presents a clear view of what actually takes place in the mediation sessions and shows how couples can use the process to create a friAndlier and less expensive divorce. The Divorce Mediation Handbook is filled with illustrative example, practical forms and charts, and helpful suggestions and valuable information including:

• How to find a good mediator
• What documents will be needed for the process
• How to determine if it is necessary to get legal advice from separate attorneys
• What to know about property and debts
• How to protect the children from stress and emotional harm
• What to do if a spouse wont cooperate

James also shows how couples can work through the thorny legal issues of divorce--property division, child support, custody, and alimony--by creating a positive environment that will short-circuit the emotional maelstrom that so often shatters families and finances.[copy for mediators: ]Wouldn't it be nice if, before coming to see you, your mediation clients

• understood how mediation works
• had prepared inventories and spread sheets
• had learned how to talk to each other in mediation
• had carefully examined their post-divorce income and expenses
• had read at least one good book on how to help their children with divorce
• understood many of the legal issues underlying their divorce

By referring your clients to The Divorce Mediation Handbook, you can prepare them with this information. Clients arriving in your office are usually con

Back Jacket

Step-by-step guide through the supportive process of divorce mediation. Author Paula James, an expert in the field of divorce mediation, presents a clear view of what actually takes place in the mediation sessions and shows how couples can use the process to create a friAndlier and less expensive divorce. James also shows how couples can work through the thorny legal and financial issues of divorce--property division, child support, custody, and alimony--by creating a positive environment that will short-circuit the emotional maelstrom and punitive costs that so often shatter families and finances.

Author Biography

PAULA JAMES a family law attorney with 15 years of experience, is a full-time mediator, national speaker, and trainer in family law mediation. She lives in Austin, Texas.