Family law mediation is a process where spouses meet with a neutral third party such as a lawyer or mental health professional to identify issues, express objectives, develop options, and work towards resolving disputes related to divorce or separation. Key issues addressed in mediation include child custody, support, property division, parenting plans, and other financial matters. The mediator's role is to facilitate communication between the parties and help them draft agreements, while remaining impartial. Mediation offers a more affordable and cooperative alternative to litigation and is most suitable for couples who are willing to communicate and find agreements.

1. FAMILY LAW MEDIATION
Julie R. Colton, Esq.
310 Grant Street
1220 Grant Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-281-3007
jcolton@vgslaw.us

2. WHAT IS FAMILY LAW MEDIATION?
 A process by which you and your spouse sit down
with a neutral third party to identify issues, express
individual objectives, develop and consider options
and discuss resolution
 The goals of mediation is to manage conflict while
creating recognition and empowerment.

3. WHAT IS FAMILY LAW MEDIATION
(CONT.)
 Support
 Custody
 Property Division
 Parenting plans
 College Education
 Life Insurance
 Pet Custody
 Estate Settlements

4. WHAT IS A MEDIATOR?
 A mediator is a neutral Third Party who will help facilitate
communication between you and your spouse. A family law
mediator will be either a trained mental health professional or
an attorney.
Rule 2.4 Lawyer Serving as Third-Party Neutral
(a) A lawyer serves as a third-party neutral when the lawyer assists two or
more persons who are not clients of the lawyer to reach a resolution of a
dispute or other matter that has arisen between them. Service as a third-party
neutral may include service as an arbitrator, a mediator or in such other
capacity as will enable the lawyer to assist the parties to resolve the matter.
(b) A lawyer serving as a third-party neutral shall inform unrepresented
parties that the lawyer is not representing them. When the lawyer knows or
reasonably should know that a party does not understand the lawyer’s role in
the matter, the lawyer shall explain the difference between the lawyer’s role
as a third-party neutral and a lawyer’s role as one who represents a client.

5. WHAT DOES A MEDIATOR DO?
 Educate about the law
 Facilitate communication between the parties
 Help the parties to “hear” each other
 Draft a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding
 Help brainstorm solutions

6. WHAT A MEDIATOR CANNOT DO
 Advocate for either party
 Practice Law
 Provide Legal Representation
 Give Legal Advise
 Draft Court Pleadings
 File your Divorce paperwork with the Court

7. HOW DOES MEDIATION WORK?
 Mediation is based on trust
 The parties must bring information with them
 The parties may rely on other professionals to
assist with the process
 Mediator helps parties to get past positions

8. MEDIATION BASICS
 Litigation must stop
 Both parties must disclose all necessary and
relevant information
 Mediation is confidential. The mediator will not
testify in court or turnover her notes
 The mediator will inform of you what the outcome
might be through the court process
 Attorneys are usually not present in family law
mediation

9. MEDIATION AS A TOOL
Mediation is often utilized in conjunction with other
professionals:
 Therapists
 Life Coaches
 Parenting Coaches
 Financial Planners
 Appraisers
The other professionals are important to improve the
outcome of mediation

10. BLIND SPOTS:
SEEING MORE THAN YOUR EYE DOES
http://www.serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/blindspot1.html

11. WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE MEDIATION
 Mediation is:
 Cost Effective
 Acknowledges emotions
 Brings awareness
 Empowering
 Move past positions to understanding

12. WHO SHOULD CHOOSE MEDIATION?
 People should use mediation if they are:
 Motivated to Mediate
 Self-Responsible
 Have a willingness to agree
 Have a willingness to disagree

13. WHO SHOULD NOT MEDIATE
 Couples with severe power imbalances (i.e.
domestic violence)
 Couples who are not willing to disagree
 Couples where only one party is willing to mediate

14. JULIE R. COLTON, ESQ.
Voelker & Gricks, LLP
310 Grant Street
1220 Grant Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-281-3007
jcolton@vgslaw.us
www.vgslaw.us