For a number of good reasons, many couples choose to resolve their divorce, legal separation or other family law issues through mediation. In many cases, a court may order parties to try to resolve their disputes through mediation.
The fact that a person will participate in mediation does not mean that he or she should not consult with an attorney. In fact, in many cases, the opposite is true. A skilled family law mediation attorney can give a person going through mediation important advice both before and during the process.
Moreover, at the end of the mediation, having an attorney review the proposed agreement can help a person make sure that the agreement is clear and accurately reflects what he or she and the other side negotiated.
On the other hand, it is important to consider carefully how one’s attorney will participate in the mediation process. In some cases, mediators may prefer that a couple’s attorneys have a limited role in the mediation itself.
In any case, it is always important for a Colorado resident to consider whether or not the attorney has the experience to be able to adapt to the mediation process. Attorneys are generally trained to advocate for everything their clients want, and those without experience may not be accustomed to a process where the focus is on negotiating and reaching an agreement.
The bottom line, though, is that mediation is not a substitute for having a family law attorney. In fact, in many cases, a Broomfield resident will be best services by availing himself or herself of both an attorney and a mediator.
