It can be an ideal alternative to traditional court litigation if you try to both strike a deal with the help of mediation. This is particularly true when it comes to child custody problems. You and your ex-partner would be capable of negotiating the terms when you work with a mediator. This will help create a deal in a way that ideally fits the needs of the kid and your lifestyle. Unfortunately, it may feel a bit daunting if you do not have an idea of the things you should expect from the mediation.  

If your child support lawyer in Texas recommends handling the child custody situation with the help of mediation, here are several things you should know about it.  

Making the Most Out of the Process 

You’ve got to ensure you know how to make the most of the case if you and your ex-partner will utilize mediation for your child custody situation. Because of this, you’ll need your own family lawyer to help you with the process of mediation. An expert attorney can inform you of your legal rights. They can also help protect your interests if your ex-partner becomes manipulative or argumentative. In addition to that, it can place you at a huge disadvantage if your ex-partner has an attorney and you don’t have any legal representation. While a mediator will be there to remind you and your ex-partner of your options, he/she will not be biased and won’t prioritize your interest like your lawyer would.  

The Advantages of Mediation 

You can utilize mediation to assist with a range of family law problems. This includes child custody, visitation problems, child support changes, spousal support changes, divorce, and much more. Child custody through mediation could be very useful. The reason for this is that it helps both you and your ex-partner to work as one and look for an answer that works for both of you and what’s best for the kid.  

There are a lot of advantages of child custody mediation. However, some of the most popular ones include: 

  • Both you and your ex-partner are free to look for personalized and creative solutions. 
  • You and your ex-partner will handle your own parenting plan. 
  • More private compared to litigation. 
  • Promotes negotiation instead of contention. 
  • Usually less costly compared to the litigation process. 
  • Faster compared to litigation. 

How Does It Work? 

With mediation, both parents can negotiate a child custody agreement with the help of a 3rd-party mediator. The mediator could provide possible solutions, settle arguments, and notify both of you of the child custody laws applicable to your situation. Also, you and your ex-partner might bring their respective family or divorce lawyers to their mediation meetings. A mediator can help both you and your ex-partner reach a fair agreement based on what’s best for all of you since he/she isn’t invested in either side.  

The objective of mediation is to establish a helpful discussion where both parties work together to create the agreements that work best for the kid. Mediation doesn’t promote contention. However, it emphasizes productive and peaceful negotiations.