Making decisions about child custody can be difficult. A court will look at many factors when deciding how a child spends his/her time. These factors include the child’s preference (if old enough to communicate it), the quality of the relationship between each parent, the mental and physical health of each parent and work obligations for the parents. Rather than leaving this critical decision in the hands of a judge, you and your divorcing spouse can elect to settle your child custody issues using mediation. Amber Serwat of AMS Mediation offers child custody mediation in Dakota County, MN. Mediation empowers you and your ex to determine what is best for your children and your family. Let our team assist you in this process.
Benefits of Child Custody Mediation in Minnesota
Amber Serwat can serve as either your child custody mediator or your child custody mediation lawyer, depending on the needs of your case. As your child custody mediator, Amber will guide you through the mediation process and serves as a neutral third party, facilitating productive discussion between you and your ex about a child custody arrangement that will work for all involved. In this role, Amber encourages you to put the needs of your child or children first. Child custody mediation will help you resolve the following three components of a custody settlement:
1. Legal and physical custody of your children
2. Decisions about parenting time (also known as visitation)
3. Issues related to child support
Role of a Child Custody Mediator Vs. a Child Custody Mediation Attorney
There are instances in which couples hire an attorney for legal advice and support during the mediation process. This is not a requirement in mediation but some individuals feel more confident working with an attorney during mediation. Amber can also serve as your child custody mediation attorney if that is your preference, but it is important to understand that she cannot serve as both your mediator and your attorney for the same case.
Child custody mediation is less expensive than litigation and can also allow you to reach resolution much more quickly which benefits your entire family. It offers significant benefit to your children by modeling positive behavior and minimizing overall conflict. Issues related to child custody can come up after your divorce is final and mediation is ideal for resolving these issues post-divorce. If you have questions about child custody mediation in Dakota County, MN, contact AMS Mediation at 952-252-1492 today.
