Mediation

Tennessee Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Although Tennessee family court judges are not required to order mediation of a disputed issue in a divorce case, they have the discretion to do so, and the use of court-ordered mediation to resolve contested issues has become common in Middle Tennessee divorce practice. In fact, one of our current family law attorneys was instrumental in bringing mediation into widespread use when he was a Circuit Court Judge in the 21st Judicial District. To learn how we can help you make the most of mediation in a divorce case, contact Hollins, Wagster, Weatherly & Raybin, P.C. in Nashville.

Mediation is basically a facilitated negotiation session in which a qualified neutral works with the disputing parties to see whether they can compromise or otherwise resolve the issue at hand. Although any issue can be resolved through mediation, disputes as to child custody or residential time are the ones most often referred to mediation.

The mediator's job is not to force you into an agreement that you don't want to make, but to encourage a negotiated resolution of the issue whenever it appears that compromise or concessions might be possible once the parties are together with their lawyers and each side has the chance to express a legal position clearly, listen to the other side's concerns, and see whether there's a way to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.

At our law firm, our long experience with difficult divorce cases enables us to help you formulate and execute a negotiation position that stands a good chance of success at mediation. We can let you know whether the other side's position is reasonable, and we can help you find a way to offer concessions that you might well be advisable anyway under the law. Additionally, a mediated resolution of any child custody or visitation problem always offers the advantage of avoiding the expense and uncertainty of a contested family court hearing.

It's important to bear in mind that you never need to accept an unfavorable result in mediation. In any case where you can reasonably expect to obtain a better decision in court than you can achieve in mediation, we will advise you of the risks involved with all of your options, and we will help you make the right decision under the facts and the law.

To for additional information about the mediation process in Tennessee divorce cases, contact an experienced family law attorney at Hollins, Wagster, Weatherly & Raybin.