Family and Divorce Mediation > Mediation Preparation Tips
Suggestions for Mediation Preparation
Make a list of all the issues you would like to discuss and also note:
- What is important to you about this issue?
- What do you want the other person to understand about this issue?
- What are your concerns about this issue?
Making the above list and answering the questions has the following benefits:
- Helps you clarify what is important to you and why
- Helps in mediation to focus on what is important to you rather than the final decision you want
- Two people starting mediation with a focus only on the solutions the believe they want, may limit the chances for true understanding and success
If you have an attorney, consult with that attorney about your list
- Ask what additional items the attorney suggests you cover in mediation
- For each issue on your list ask:
- What are my individual legal considerations for each issue?
- What is the best that could happen to me in court on each issue?
- What is the worst that could happen to me in court on each issue?
- What is the most likely that would happen to me in court on each issue?
Also ask your attorney how soon you would be able to get a court date and what the costs might be of having a court decide?
Bring whatever paperwork that might be helpful to the two of you in more clearly understanding what it is you have and what it is you want to do.
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