Philadelphia Divorce Mediation Attorney | Pennsylvania Custody, Support & Property Settlement Agreement

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Divorce Mediation Attorney

Not all divorces take place through the courts. Rather than having a couple each hire their own lawyers and go though what is often a lengthy, expensive, difficult, and emotionally draining litigation process, they can often proceed through divorce mediation and obtain a signed custody, support, property settlement, and other agreements. Once that is done, all that is left is the simple process of filing a divorce complaint and obtaining a divorce decree.

I'm Lee A. Schwartz, a Pennsylvania family law attorney serving clients throughout the five-county Philadelphia area. I have been doing divorce mediation since the late 1980s, and I am also a trained arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. Contact my office to discuss you mediation needs.

What is Divorce Mediation?

Mediation is a process whereby a husband and wife meet with a third party, called a "mediator," who is specially trained to hear these types of disputes and help parties reach their own agreement regarding aspects of their case, such as:

Afterwards, their agreement is reduced to writing, signed, and the parties obtain their divorce. Mediation does often save parties a lot of time, emotional distress, and money.

Is Divorce Mediation Right for Me?

Mediation is valuable when the two parties are able to manage their anger, or hostility toward the other party, sit in a room with each other, and work through the issues together. However, not everybody is a candidate for mediation. If you come into mediation with an agenda or to hurt the other party, mediation will not work. The process requires two people who can communicate with each other, with the help of an experienced mediator.

As a skilled mediator, I don't represent either party. I help both parties discuss their concerns and help them work through the issues. I will counsel both parties as to what the result in court might be if they went to court. I tell the parties when their positions make sense, and advise them when their positions don't. Finally, I try to help them shape and mold an agreement that is in the best interest of everyone involved; one they can live with.

When they are finished, the two parties can complete the divorce process.

For more information or to discuss your potential divorce mediation case, contact me, Philadelphia family law mediation attorney Lee A. Schwartz. I am associated with the Spear Wilderman Law Firm.