Families Change Kids Guide to Separation & Divorce

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Mediation

Jeremy: Sometimes people go to a mediatorA person who does mediation, and helps people agree about things for help with all the decisions they have to make when they decide not to live together.

Mediators have special training to help people make decisions when they can’t agree. This is called mediationA process of helping people agree about things.

If your parents use mediation to help with their decisions, they will meet with the mediator a few times at his or her office.

With the help of a mediator, they may be able to agree on custody and access, child supportThe money one parent has to pay the other parent to help pay for the things kids need, property divisionWhen people who separate split up the things they own and other things.

One or both of your parents may also have a lawyer during the mediation process. Sometimes, kids can be involved in the mediation process. You may be present during the mediation, for some or all of the sessions. Or, you may be brought into the mediating room after an agreement has been reached, so that the mediator and your parents can tell you what has been decided and get your acceptance.

If your parents can’t agree, they will have to go to court and a judge will make the decisions.