Salt Lake City Mediation Attorney

ASSISTING WITH MEDIATION AND COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE IN SALT LAKE CITY

Many divorce cases need to go to trial due to the serious legal questions involved. Many times, mediation is fruitless because the parties are too far apart on settlement terms or they simply cannot work together because of previous marital violence, unresolved personal issues or some other reason.

My name is Melvin A. Cook and I am a Salt Lake City mediation attorney. I believe that mediation is nearly always at least worth a try. There are simply too many advantages to mediation to simply discard the idea altogether. In more than a decade of practicing family law in Salt Lake City, I have become very familiar with the feeling of satisfaction my clients experience when they have a great deal of input regarding their divorce settlement. In a nutshell, that feeling is why divorce mediation exists.

IS MEDIATION A PREREQUISITE TO DIVORCE IN UTAH?

Utah courts have required mediation in all contested cases since 2005. I usually get the best results with an attorney mediator who focuses on family law matters. Mediation is usually a good idea because of the three Cs:

• Control — Instead of a judge who does not even know you issuing orders that dictate your future, you can participate in the process.
• Cost — Mediation is cheaper than litigation.
• Conflict — Courtroom battles can be very damaging emotional experiences, for you and your children.

Mediation allows both parties to voice their concerns to an independent arbitrator. Unlike a traditional divorce setting which often encourages an adversarial atmosphere, mediation allows both parties to work together to resolve their differences. In many cases, couples avoid divorce and go on with their lives.  Although success is not guaranteed, mediation provides couples with solutions and options they may have never attempted.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR MEDIATION IN SALT LAKE CITY?

Although the exact procedure varies, a formal mediation session lasts either a full- or half-day. The mediator begins by speaking with both parties, and then each spouse goes to a separate room. The mediator shuttles back and forth to encourage settlement. At the end of the session, the mediator either helps the parties outline a divorce decree or makes a report to the court that the mediation was unsuccessful.

SHOULD I TRY COLLABORATIVE LAW?

I am trained in collaborative law, and that is certainly an option in some cases. In collaborative law, the parties agree to forego litigation entirely and settle their differences without even the threat of going to court. If this litigation alternative seems appealing to you, we can certainly discuss options for both litigation and collaborative law solutions.

CONTACT A SALT LAKE CITY MEDIATION ATTORNEY WHO PROTECTS YOU BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE MARRIAGE

I am proud to offer both litigation and non-litigation solutions for your family law issues. Contact the Law Office of Mel A. Cook at 801-746-5075 or online to schedule your free consultation with a Salt Lake City Mediation Attorney. Hablo Español.