Offices of Jacob M. Rzepka

Mediation is a voluntary process in which you make decisions together with your spouse based on an understanding of your views, your spouse’s views, and the reality you face. A professional mediator facilitates your discussions but does not give advice or determine decisions.

In mediation, the parties hire a neutral third party to assist them in reaching agreements about their divorce. The mediator can provide information about the divorce process and guide a discussion to help resolve issues. The mediator does not need to be a lawyer and does not represent either party. Whether the mediator is a lawyer or not, the mediator cannot provide legal advice.

Probably the greatest advantage is that the parties make the decisions rather than attorney's, and judges. The process can be kept confidential. In most cases discussions during a mediation may not be divulged in later court proceedings.

If the parties use mediation without attorneys, they are responsible for preparing all the required forms for the court. The parties must also appear in court for their final hearing to have their agreement approved and the divorce judgment granted.

Mediation may occur with parties who have hired attorneys or parties who are not represented. The parties communicate with each other directly, in the presence of the mediator. The goal of mediation is to allow parties to reach agreements that meet the needs of both parties and their children without the financial and emotional cost of a court battle.

Benefits of Mediation

You set your own pace. The process can move as fast or as slow as the parties choose and you are not restricted by the availability of a court calendar.

You stay out of court. Everyone agrees to reach agreement outside of a courtroom.

You create workable solutions. The process gives you the freedom and opportunity to craft more creative solutions than are available through courts.

You remain in control. In a typical scenario, the court gives you a solution it could also assign to hundreds of other families. Through mediation, you hand craft a decision that will work for you.

You save resources. Mediation is generally less costly and time-consuming than attorney-negotiated agreements and litigation.

How Mediation Works

Parties meet with the mediator to identify issues, complete exchanges of information, and use non-coercive problem-solving techniques to come to an agreement.

Parties can be supported -- in or out of the meeting room -- by consulting Lawyers, financial and estate planners, accountants, insurance advisors, and therapists.

At the conclusion of the mediation the mediator will prepare a report summarising the agreements achieved during the sessions. A complete mediation may involve multiple meetings between the parties and a mediator. Each session will focus on a differnt aspect of the settlement process. The goal is to achieve a solution acceptable to both parties, and consistent with the needs of each party.

Family-centered conflicts that can be resolved through mediation include:

• Separation & divorce
• Parenting & visitation
• Division of property
• Spousal & child support
• Guardianship
• Non-marital dissolution
• Pre-nuptial issues
• Parent-teen conflicts
• Estate issues

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Law offices Jacob M. Rzepka 5035 Mayfield Rd. Lyndhurst, Ohio 44236 (216)-923-1309
Hours By Appointment - Evening and Weekend Appointment Available
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