Parenting with Your Ex-Spouse
When you and your spouse decided to separate, it may have been because you grew apart, changed, had difficulty communicating or had different goals. If you share children, however, the divorce is not the end of your relationship. In fact, it is just the beginning of a new phase of your relationship: co-parenting.
Co-parenting your children from different homes requires a new level of communication, patience and skill. Johnson Mediation can help you with all types of issues related to parenting with your ex-spouse.
Everyone reacts somewhat differently to a divorce situation. Divorced parents with minor children will most likely remain connected in some fashion as they work together to raise, nurture and care for he needs of each child. Post-divorce disagreements can escalate and cause harm to the children if each party is not willing or able to put aside resentments towards the ex-partner and put the needs of the child first. Johnson Mediation provides couples with helpful tools and support services to resolve parenting conflicts or emotional issues that may arise while moving on after divorce. Post-Divorce counseling services at Johnson Mediation are provided by a professional mediator with experience in grief recovery solutions and mediating changes to divorce agreements.
You might have been thinking about the idea of a divorce for a long time. Maybe you have been unsure if you were ready, if it would negatively impact your family, or if you had questions about whether you could survive financially. These are all very important questions as you consider this big decision. Here are some important pieces of information to know before you move ahead with a divorce:
It has often been said that divorce is one of the most stressful of all life events. It is marked with high emotion, pain, and conflict and, in some cases, is coupled with a move/relocation and other logistical changes that can cause further stress. Everyone needs some level of support while they are going through a divorce – which can come in many different forms: family, friends, co-workers, a pastor, a therapist or another professional. One of the most important things is to figure out the type of support you need and then plan to put it in place during and after the divorce process.
If you are going through a divorce and need assistance sorting out issues related to finances, parenting time or custody, an early neutral evaluation might be a helpful tool for your family. Johnson Mediation can complete both financial early neutral evaluations (FENE) or a social early neutral evaluation (ENE) to help your family settle these complicated issues without going through the long and expensive litigation process. Both of these processes are considered
When it comes to the legal divorce process, every state is a bit different. It is important to understand the divorce law in your state so that you can plan accordingly and make informed decisions. Minnesota is a no-fault state, meaning that you do not have to establish that your spouse did something wrong in order to qualify for divorce. You can simply state that you have an irretrievable breakdown in the marriage. This is important because it means that a divorce will be approved even if only one party wants it. In addition, as a no-fault state, the court does not make decisions about custody, division of property or spousal maintenance based on whether one spouse was at fault in the dissolution of the marriage.
For many of us, the thought of having meetings over the computer rather than in person may have seemed impossible, unnecessary or just not practical. Before 2020, virtual meetings were highly unusual. But, since that time, our society has transitioned to more flexible work options, working from home and zoom meetings have become common for all types of meetings and appointments. Mediation services have benefited from this transition to virtual meetings and the results for families have been highly successful. Johnson Mediation now offers virtual divorce mediation services to couples all over
Every marriage is different, and no two divorces are the same, but one thing that nearly all divorces have in common is conflict. If you share children, then you are probably already concerned with ways to protect them from the conflict between you and your spouse. The staff at Johnson Mediation offers a wide variety of resources that can help you with this important part of the process. Below are strategies to help you protect your children from the conflict and tension between you and your ex.
The Minnesota court system recommends that all couples attempt mediation or another alternative dispute resolution technique before going through the court system. Some couples will be extremely amicable and other couples may have significant conflict and adversarial communication. Mediation can be effective no matter what level of conflict you and your spouse have. A trained and qualified mediator can find common ground with all kinds of couples in all types of situations.
Deciding to divorce is more than a decision to make a logistical change in your life. For many couples, it represents a personal loss and can elicit emotions like regret, sadness, and disappointment. These emotions impact the two individuals in the marriage but also have an effect on the children from the marriage as well. There are strategies for reducing the emotional toll of a divorce on a family and the team at Johnson Mediation can help you find your way forward while you and your family heal.
