Finding The Right Delaware County, PA Mediator For You

Providing Legal Guidance Throughout the Mediation Process in Delaware County

Divorce is by far one of the most emotionally turbulent periods of time any family can endure. In some cases, mediation can help remove the need for a contentious trial and allow you to find an agreeable resolution with your spouse, long before you ever have to consider stepping into a courtroom. Speaking to the experienced team at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can help answer any questions you may have and if so needed, provide legal guidance throughout the mediation process. To learn more, dial (610) 645-0100 or use the online contact form on this page.

What to Look For in a Mediator

A simple online search will yield a bevy of results for divorce mediators both in Pennsylvania and nationwide. There are quite literally hundreds to choose from in this state alone. So, what should you be on the lookout for when weighing one of the toughest choices of your life? Before making a decision, it is highly recommended you consult with a knowledgeable divorce attorney first - one who has experience working with mediators and can offer professional advice. Additionally, these are a few of the things to consider while doing your search:

Free Consultation - Do they provide a free case evaluation? Most lawyers employ this strategy and any professional mediator should as well. Meeting with them is the best way to get a feel of their style, how they’ll work with you and what you can expect. Do they have any documents, brochure or take-aways that you can review to help you decide?

Training, Experience & Knowledge - Like any professional, you’ll want to review any prospective mediator’s credentials and check their references. Where did they get their education? Whom did they train with? Are they affiliated with any currently active mediating firms or did they obtain previous work experience from such an organization? Are they an authority on the subject, with a mastery of divorce proceedings? Answers to all of these questions will help you make an informed decision.

Price - In the long run, mediation ends up costing considerably less due to the less combative process in which it is approached and the reduced time frame that stems from said approach. With that said, you’ll want to get a full picture of the fee schedule from the outset.

Chemistry - Mediation is an incredibly intimate ordeal and you’ll be spending a good deal of time together, pouring over options, documents and family history. Whomever you select to mediate your divorce, make sure it is someone you feel you can trust. To a certain degree, this will be the ultimate deciding factor when planning to move ahead - do you like the person?

Individual Attention & Representation

Over the years, Delaware County, Pennsylvania divorce attorney Sheryl R. Rentz has counseled hundreds of individuals through these difficult moments and helped them secure the assets, the rights and the custody they deserve. Sheryl and her team appreciate the individual complexity each case presents and bring a personalized approached to each one. If you live in the greater Philadelphia area and are in need of an experienced divorce attorney, please call (610) 645-0100 to set up a free case evaluation.

What Is the Difference Between Mediation and Litigation?

After making the decision to get a divorce, you are faced with the decision of how to proceed with the divorce process. The method you choose can impact how long your divorce lasts, how much it costs, and how satisfied you are with the divorce settlement.

There are a few methods to getting a divorce, the two main options being mediation and litigation. Which method is best for your situation is determined by a number of factors, but, ultimately, mediation is the only process which can help you and your spouse come to a mutual agreement. As an experienced divorce lawyer, Sheryl R. Rentz, is committed to helping her clients achieve the best divorce settlement possible and the best divorce settlement is one which is developed cooperatively between spouses.

What Happens in Mediation?

Mediation is a process where both spouses meet together with a certified mediator in an informal setting to discuss the terms of their divorce. The impartial mediator is present to facilitate the discussion and make sure the conversation moves forward cooperatively. While both spouses may have their own legal counsel to advise them, attorneys do not take part in any of the actual meetings, which are confidential. If both spouses can come to a mutual agreement concerning the divorce settlement, the decisions reached during mediation may become final and official upon the signing of a legal document by both parties.

Even if you complete your divorce negotiations through mediation, you still have to file for divorce with the court and then submit the agreed upon settlement terms to the court once they are finalized. Although mediation may not be possible for a couple between whom there is a lot of hostility, it is usually the quicker and cheaper route for a divorcing couple; not to mention it typically results in divorce terms that both sides will not violate.

The Stress of Litigation in Pennsylvania

Divorce by litigation occurs in a court room, with a judge, both spouses and their attorneys. It is more expensive and more contentious with both sides working against each other to get what they want rather than with each other, as in mediation. Litigation is you and your attorney building a case against your spouse and their attorney in order to obtain a favorable divorce settlement, and, ultimately, it is the judge’s final decision, whether you like it or not. Nonetheless, litigation can still be an effective process, and may be the only one available for a couple whose anger towards each other does not allow for the cooperative negotiation of mediation.

Effective Resolution to Your Divorce

Whether you choose to try mediation or you believe litigation is the best option for your divorce, an experienced family law attorney can help you achieve a positive outcome. Knowledgeable Pennsylvania divorce attorney Sheryl Rentz, founder of the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, can help you decide the best way to move forward with your divorce and is committed to her clients’ best interests. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call for a consultation today.

What Are the Advantages of Mediation in Delaware County, PA?

Making the decision to divorce is emotionally trying but may ultimately be the best decision you make for yourself and your children. Once the decision is made, the stressful divorce process begins, but how difficult that process is depends on the manner in which you choose to proceed with it. A heated court battle can sabotage any chance of an amicable relationship between you and your spouse post-divorce. If you and your spouse have a relatively civil relationship and are both committed to the best interests of your children, litigation may not be the best option for you.

Achieving a positive divorce outcome for all parties is the ultimate goal and the best way to do that is to come up with the terms of the divorce settlement yourselves. If you leave it up to a judge to make the final decision, your divorce settlement, especially in terms of child custody and visitation, may not be in your or your children’s best interests. Experienced attorney Sheryl Rentz, founder of the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, recognizes that the terms of a divorce settlement will dictate the terms of your family’s future and is committed to helping you find the arrangement that works best.

How Does Mediation in Pennsylvania Work?

Generally, mediation is conducted in an informal setting between you, your spouse, and a certified mediator, who will help facilitate the discussion between you and your spouse concerning all aspects of your divorce arrangement, including property division, child custody and support, parenting plans, alimony, and even division of debt. Typically, each spouse would retain their own legal counsel to advise them of their rights and options, but attorneys are not included in the actual mediation sessions.

Mediation vs. Litigation

Mediation is always better than litigation, if you and your spouse are able to put your anger and/or resentment aside to have a productive discussion. Some of the many advantages of mediation over litigation include the following:

Avoiding excessive court and attorney fees;
Resolving issues more quickly (usually) and with less hostility and emotional distress;
Finding out exactly what your spouse has and wants (ideally);
Establishing a child custody and support, and/or spousal support, plan that is realistic, agreeable to both parties, and in the best interests of the children;
Being able to have a confidential discussion that may not be used against you in obtaining the final divorce agreement; and
Sticking to a divorce settlement that you came up with will be easier.

If your relationship with your spouse can manage it, mediation will always achieve better results than litigation because the settlement is arranged by you, not a judge who makes a decision based on two sides of the same story.

Finding a Resolution that Benefits Your Family

Redefining yourself, maintaining a strong relationship with your children, and creating your new path in life are directly tied to your divorce settlement. Mediation can help you come to an arrangement that creates a positive environment for you and your children post-divorce. If you believe mediation is the best option for you and your family, contact knowledgeable Delaware County mediation lawyer Sheryl R. Rentz today for a consultation at (610) 645-0100. We are committed to helping you create a positive future.

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