The Divorce Mediation Answer Book

Book excerpt: Though we all enter marriage hoping for "forever," nearly half of American marriages end in divorce. But divorce no longer has to mean pain, exhaustion, or suffering. Today, you can choose to mediate your separation or divorce and save yourself time, money, and aggravation. Mediation enables couples to create custom-made agreements that work for everyone and that pave the way for an amicable future relationship. In this accessible question-and-answer guide, two experts offer solid advice and cover all the bases. Among the hundreds of entries inside you'll find answers to your most basic questions: o How do we find a mediator? o How does court-ordered mediation work? o What are fault and no-fault grounds for divorce? As well as your most confusing issues: o We have children but we never married, and now we're splitting up. Can we use mediation to provide for our children in the future? o Our baby is still nursing. How does that affect custody and visitation? o Does child support include medical bills? Health insurance? o How do we decide who gets the frequent flier miles? Who gets the dog? o If we sell our home, how do we divide the proceeds? o Am I entitled to a portion of my spouse's Social Security benefits? o When we complete our separation agreement, do we need new Wills and any other new documents? An invaluable resource section, with a listing of mediators around the country as well as other sources of information, makes this book an essential tool for any couple about to separate. Whether you're contemplating separation or are in the midst of a complex divorce, this book will empower you, will provide you with a base for entering into negotiations, and will offer support and guidance throughout the process, from both a legal and emotional perspective. Most importantly, it will provide you with immediate, straightforward advice for all your questions.