May 27, 2018 | Carver County MN, Chanhassen MN, Early Neutral Evaluations, Mediator Near ME, Neutral Mediator
A Financial Early Neutral Evaluation is a voluntary process that seeks to resolve and reduce the length and expense of prolonged court proceedings. These evaluations are similar to medication because it is an alternative form of divorce compared the typically hiring an attorney and going into litigation. These are sometimes preferred because they are non-binding and voluntary.
The biggest difference between mediation and a FENE is that with mediation, the mediator will attempt to have the parties reach a solution, without giving an evaluation of their case. When you choose to take the route of an evaluation, you take a quick evaluation and based on limited arguments and facts from both parties you make a goal to reach a resolution surrounding your financial issues.
May 24, 2018 | Carver County MN, Chanhassen MN, Divorce Mediation, Neutral Mediator
When you and your spouse got married, likely the last thing on your mind is how you might split your assets, property and time spent with your children if you decide to divorce. You likely lived the majority of your married life with little regard for what belonged to whom. But once you and your partner decide that going your separate ways is the best path forward, your attention suddenly turns to dividing all aspects of your intertwined life together. This is extremely difficult for all involved and it becomes very easy to be concerned about whether what you are agreeing to in the divorce settlement is fair. The team at Johnson Mediation can help you navigate the divorce process and ensure that the settlement you reach is fair, consistent and benefits all involved.
May 10, 2018 | Divorce Mediation, Post Divorce Support, Spousal Support
Spousal support (also called alimony) is one of the most important issues to settle during a divorce. It is not awarded in all divorce cases – it is used when one spouse cannot meet his/her needs without financial assistance. It is not a punishment but the court recognizes that there are instances in which one spouse is financially dependent on the other at the time of the divorce. This financial inequity or earning discrepancy means that the spouse that is less well-off is entitled to receive financial support to help him/her establish their life after the divorce. Johnson Mediation specializes in helping couples find ways to solve issues related to their divorce. If you live in Minnesota, our team can help you navigate the process of determining whether spousal support is necessary in your case, without a long and expensive court battle.
May 4, 2018 | Chanhassen MN, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Mediation
If you and your partner have made the very difficult decision to divorce, you may be considering your options for settling all of the important aspects of your separation. Dividing up your shared property and assets (and debts), developing a parenting plan if you share children, and determining whether child and/or spousal support is applicable are key issues to sort out during the divorce process. There are two possible paths to follow – litigation or mediation. Mediation has become a very popular and highly effective tool to settle many divorces around the country.
Apr 30, 2018 | Child Custody, Child Support
If your divorce has created questions about custody of your children, Johnson Mediation can help you. Custody can be a very complex aspect of divorce, and to feel confident about how you answer the questions pertaining to it, you should make sure that you have a qualified, competent advocate on your side, like the team at Johnson Mediation.
There are some important differences between joint custody and sole custody. Those differences go beyond the simple definitions that joint custody means sharing the custodial responsibilities with your former spouse and sole custody means you bear that responsibility alone. Legal custody means that you are responsible for making key decisions about your children’s lives. Such decisions can involve health care, school-related decisions, where you and your children will live, counseling, and faith-related traditions.
Apr 28, 2018 | Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce Mediation, Un-Married Parents Seperating
Unmarried couples who share children can make their own agreements for important issues such as child support, child custody and visitation. Whether you are married or not, when children are involved, it is critically important to make sure that plans are in place that put your kids’ well-being first. Communication during a separation is very often strained, so investing in mediation sessions may be a productive way to handle many issues related to your split – including how to handle child support agreements. Johnson Mediation focuses on helping families through these difficult transitions by facilitating positive and productive communication that result in workable solutions for all involved.
Apr 22, 2018 | Comprehensive Mediation, Divorce Mediation
Because you may not have ever expected to be in the midst of a divorce, you may never have given much thought to the various options for settling a divorce. We are all aware of the statistic that approximately 50% of marriages end in divorce, but when we said our vows and pondered a future, divorce was simply not in the picture. So, if you have found yourself in a situation in which divorce looks like your reality, you might need some help and support to navigate the process.
Apr 17, 2018 | Parenting Time
There are several advantages to hiring a Parenting Time Expeditor (PTE). We at Johnson Mediation provide Parenting Time Expeditor services to divorcing couples in Chanhassen, Shakopee, and many other communities in Minnesota. The courts generally do a great job of helping divorced couples settle their differences related to parenting time, but the courts simply cannot keep up with the demand. So, neutral third parties trained in mediation, can provide expert mediation to help you reach fair and equitable agreements with your divorcing spouse about important issues such as parenting time. Our team can be especially helpful if you are nervous about being denied time with your children in the future; if you believe that you should be able to make up time with your children that has been missed or denied previously; or if the other parent is somehow interfering with your scheduled parenting time.
Apr 11, 2018 | Divorce Coach, Divorce Coaching
When you are going through a divorce, you can expect to need significant support from family, friends, loved ones, and co-workers. In addition to getting this important support from your social network, it can be extremely helpful to also seek support from professionals who are experienced with the process of divorce and can help you navigate this difficult time. A therapist or counselor can offer specific support that might be especially useful and a divorce coach can provide support and guidance when you need it most. This individual divorce support can help you more clearly see your path forward.
Apr 5, 2018 | Parenting Specialist, Parenting Time
If you and your divorcing spouse share children, then your divorce is about much more than who ends up with the house, the cars and the dining room table. You have to think carefully about how your children will respond to this change, both emotionally and logistically. You and your ex may be ready to separate, but are your kids ready to split their time with their parents? Divorcing parents make these major decisions about separating for themselves and as well as for their children. During this complex and difficult process, you may decide that you and your family could benefit from support, guidance and experience. Johnson Mediation provides divorce mediation and parenting services for families in Chanhassen, Bloomington, and Richfield, Minnesota who are navigating the divorce process. Our staff offers parenting classes to help couples keep their children in mind as they make all decisions related to their divorce.