You have separated and are ready to sort out the future arrangements for your Children.
You have decided that going to Mediation with your ex is the best way forward for you. Are you feeling nervous about the process? Are you uncertain as to what you should do before your Mediation day? Being prepared will ensure that you can attend with confidence.
If you don’t prepare, you risk not asking questions that matter to you.
Typically, client’s who are unprepared go off track, waste time and extend the Mediation. The result is higher costs for both you and your ex.
Our role is to properly prepare you for Mediation.
Julie Price is an experienced Mediator with North Queensland Counselling & Mediation. She ensures that prepared parents are ready to discuss the following questions at their Mediation.
Mediation Questions that you must consider:
- 1. What do you feel is important in your Children’s lives and needs to be taken into account when making arrangements for your Children? What are their current extracurricular activities? Do they regularly spend time with other family members? Is there any health concerns for the Children?
- 2. What do you feel is important when developing the Agreement? How will each of you be involved with your Children’s schooling? How will you discuss making decisions about your Children’s health?
- 3. What are your personal values in relation to the parenting of your Children? Do you want your children to receive the best possible education? Is it important to you that the Children have a healthy lifestyle?
- 4. Without pointing the finger, details of any barriers you foresee in co-parenting? Have you had trouble communicating with your ex in the past? Do you have different parenting styles.
- 5. What are your long term goals or aspirations relating to your children’s well-being and happiness?
It is vital that you invest the time to work through these questions prior to the Mediation day. We will help guide you through these questions.
Considering these questions for the first time on the day, in front of your ex, lawyers and the Mediator may overwhelm you. In these situations you are more likely to agree to limit or stop the conflict rather than considering what best suits you and your children. Later you will regret the decisions made in haste on the day.
When clients are prepared for their Mediation, they are more open to exploring options and more likely to reach the best outcome for their children.
Mediation is always our preferred process (rather than going to Court). Client’s who are prepared come away with more agreeable outcomes.
It is important that you work with a law firm that values the Mediation process. Shuttleworth Legal has a strong history of using Mediation to resolve complex separation issues. Contact us to book a free 15 min telephone conversation time to prepare for your upcoming Mediation today!
