Pursuing Divorce

Resolving these substantive issues is a significant goal in the mediation process, however, addressing the relationship aspects is also vitally important; especially when you have children since continuing parental interaction will exist. Our hope is that couples have made every effort to resolve conflict between them before pursuing divorce. Thus, we will not take cases where parties come in intending a separation to divorce unless they are willing to first work with us to make, or have already made, meaningful, good faith personal conciliation efforts. Personal conciliation is of high value whether or not the marriage survives. In addition to resolving the issues before you, our hope is you will also leave with better communication and conflict resolution skills and without bitterness.

We will meet with you and your spouse in separate confidential intake / pre-mediation sessions of at least two hours to gain an understanding of your differing perspectives and explore approaches to resolution. Before the joint sessions begin, we will be providing homework and potentially additional coaching with a focus on your contributions to the conflict and a productive path forward.

During the joint mediation sessions that follow we will encourage each party to share their hopes and expectations for themselves and, if applicable, their children. We will help you to identify and unpack the major issues contributing to the conflict and help you seek to understand and dismantle any barriers to resolution. After barriers have been removed we will brainstorm with you in search of creative solutions to material issues. Lastly, we will help you arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement, which will govern your period of separation and/or the terms of your divorce. Your mediators’ role does not include preparing the filing of a petition for divorce based on the agreement with the court, which either of the parties may do once the agreement reached in mediation is finalized.

If you are not able to reach resolution through mediation, you can choose to resolve your property division and support matters through binding arbitration, rather than reverting to a court action. Either process can avoid expensive legal fees and costs as well as the lengthy process of a contested court proceeding.

Our mediators are certified through the Judicial Council of the Virginia Supreme Court but we help with divorce, separation, custody, support, and other family law matters with parties from any jurisdiction in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, including Virginia, Maryland, or beyond.