Family Law Mediation

St. Louis, Missouri Divorce and Child Custody Mediator

Divorce, child custody and other family law matters involve some of the most complex and personal situations an individual encounters in a lifetime. Clients have concerns ranging from dividing property and debt to custody of children and support obligations.
There are many issues to consider:

• Who will have custody of the children?
• How will property and debt be divided?
• How is child support and spousal maintenance determined?

Many family law disputes, including child custody, visitation, child support, spousal maintenance and marital property division, can be resolved without going to court. As court dockets have become more congested, there has been a greater focus on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) such as mediation.
Mediation is a confidential, practical way to resolve problems with the help of an impartial third party. It is a non-adversarial approach to conflict resolution, where the parties generally communicate directly; the role of the mediator is to facilitate communication between the parties, assist them in focusing on the real issues of the dispute, and generate options for settlement. Unlike a judge, commissioner or arbitrator, decision making authority does not reside with the mediator, but rather with the parties seeking to resolve the dispute. The agreements reached by the parties are incorporated into the divorce decree or court order and are then subject to the approval of the court.
Mediation, particularly in a family law setting, provides a viable option for those who prefer to stay out of court. The potential advantages of mediation include:

• Reduced cost
• Less emotional stress
• Flexibility with rules and procedures
• Control over what decisions are made
• Focus on issues not personal conflict

For example, in a custody dispute (time with children, special or changing needs of children, child support, taxes, medical insurance, child care) mediation allows parents to seek practical solutions which are customized to fit their unique circumstance. The process itself helps parents find ways to work with each other regarding their children. How? With the assistance of a mediator, parents look at various options rather than arguing with each other. The mediator works with both parents to help them make decisions with confidence, because a successful custody schedule is more likely to occur when both parents are committed to a plan that they created and makes sense to them.
You will want to speak with a mediator who will provide you with practical solutions which are customized to fit their circumstances.
Jonathan D. Marks can help. He has facilitated agreements in various family law matters. He has earned his clients' trust by the results obtained and by always keeping the lines of communication open. Jonathan's clients know that they will always speak with him and be fully informed of all developments in a timely manner. If you choose Jonathan as your mediator, you will have the advantage of both a trained mediator and an experienced family law attorney, so whatever path your mediation takes, you will have a skilled practitioner and an experienced problem solver assisting you.

This page is intended to provide you with a general overview of family law mediation. To determine whether mediation is appropriate in your situation, contact Jonathan D. Marks by email or by telephone at 314.993.6300.

We Practice Throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area

For a top notch law firm without the inconvenience of downtown St. Louis or Clayton traffic, call The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. We practice throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County, St. Charles County, the City of St. Louis, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Warren County, Franklin County, Madison County - Illinois, St. Clair County - Illinois, and Monroe County - Illinois.