The 4 Essential Stages in New York’s Child Custody Mediation Process Child custody arrangements need not involve acrimonious court battles. With the guidance of a skilled child custody mediator in New York, crafting a suitable custody and visitation schedule for your family can be achieved through a straightforward 4-step process.
Step 1: Selecting the Appropriate Mediator and Initiating the Initial Meeting Begin by choosing the most suitable mediator for your specific requirements. Your mediator should possess expertise in mediating child custody cases akin to yours, offer clear information and address queries effectively, and excel in both collaborative negotiation and communication.
During the initial meeting, the mediator will outline the mediation process, covering what to anticipate in subsequent discussions. They will also elucidate pertinent rules governing mediation, such as confidentiality, and respond to any inquiries from you or your spouse.
Step 2: Identifying Custody Matters Relevant to Your Family Next, each family situation is distinct, making each child custody mediation slightly unique. Typically, couples seek to address these primary custody matters:
• The overall custody and visitation schedule.
• Special circumstances like holidays, vacations, or essential work-related travel.
• The logistics of the custody and visitation schedule, encompassing communication between parents and arrangements for the child's transportation.
• Establishing a method for amending the custody agreement and visitation schedule in the future.
• Addressing matters crucial to your family, such as participation in religious activities, private schooling, and handling emergency situations like medical care or prolonged illnesses involving the child or a parent.
Step 3: Reaching Consensus on Custody Matters The third stage of the child custody mediation process involves reaching consensus on the concerns raised by both parents. Achieving an agreement that suits all parties necessitates a willingness to compromise and refrain from revisiting past conflicts or assigning blame. The mediator plays a vital role in facilitating productive and child-centered communication between the couple, enhancing the likelihood of a successful resolution.
Step 4: Executing and Lodging the Custody Mediation Agreement Lastly, once agreement is reached on all issues, the mediator will draft a child custody agreement for each party to review meticulously before signing and submitting it to the court. It's crucial to understand that this agreement constitutes a legally binding contract, and non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, including the loss of custody and visitation rights. Therefore, it's imperative to ensure the agreement accurately reflects all discussions from your mediation sessions before affixing your signature.
Experienced Family Law Mediators For New York Families
At the Law Office of Stacy Sabatini, Esq., we provide offer mediation and other family law services to families in Rockland, Orange, and Westchester counties. To find out more about paternity, child support, custody, and visitation orders as well as our other services, please contact our office online by filling out our online form or call (845) 243-0295 today!