In reality, Texas family law cases often involve a more peaceful and constructive process known as mediation. Contrary to the dramatic courtroom scene portrayed in movies, mediation offers a collaborative approach. Both parties work with a neutral mediator to resolve their disputes amicably. This process allows individuals to voice their concerns, explore options, and negotiate agreements tailored to their unique circumstances. Mediation is a cornerstone of Texas family law. It promotes communication, compromise, and mutual understanding to reach mutually beneficial solutions outside of court.
In most cases, expect mediation to resolve your family law case. Mediation involves a third-party attorney. They act as a mediator, helping you and the opposing party settle any remaining issues in your case. You, your spouse, and your attorneys will go to the mediator’s office and sit in separate rooms. The mediator essentially acts as a ping-pong ball. They bounce back and forth between your room and that of your spouse to help you settle your case.
Benefits of Mediation in Family Law Cases
Judges are big fans of mediation. Number one, mediation encourages you and your spouse to work together to resolve the issues of your case. Secondly, you can achieve a better outcome more tailored to your family than what a judge might offer. This is because the judge will never understand you and your spouse as well as you do. It makes sense, then, that applying your knowledge can lead to a favorable outcome for both parties.
The other benefit of mediation is that a mediated order tends to hold up a lot better over time. Since you created the order, you’re more likely to agree with its contents and adhere to it in the future. Going to trial could result in an order that doesn’t suit either you or your spouse well. If circumstances change later on, violating the order might be the only option, leading to another court appearance.
How could your mediation be structured?
As mentioned earlier, mediation commonly involves meeting at the mediator’s office, with you in one room and your spouse in another. The mediator goes back and forth between your rooms in hopes of spurring each of you towards a settlement. It is likely that you and your spouse will not even see one another while at the mediation session.
Mediation Excludes Family and Friends
Family members and friends are typically not permitted to attend mediation. Seeing your spouse’s new love interest or a mother-in-law you’re not fond of can distract you from settling. Mediation is an opportunity for you and your lawyer to collaborate on practical solutions to your case. Relying on family members to influence negotiations can significantly sidetrack you and your attorney.
Structured mediation aims to alleviate much of the animosity and stress associated with contested hearings and trials. Being in the same room as the person you’re divorcing can distract you from the matter at hand. This can lead to focusing more on your anger or frustration. An open and honest conversation with your attorney about your case and its circumstances can be incredibly beneficial.
Empowering Role of Individuals in Mediation
Mediation is not something where your attorney will take the lead in addressing the issues. The mediator will address you directly, and your attorney will likely offer advice and perspective when needed. Many people find that divorce isn’t overly complicated. They usually focus on determining the best possession schedule for their child or how to divide house equity for sale. As a result, you often feel fully capable of offering opinions on relevant subjects. In most situations, you may not need to rely on your attorney.
Finally, the mediator will likely require you to share information about the hearing that your spouse either does not know or is not fully aware of. You can give your mediator permission to share that information with your spouse. As you begin to exchange information freely, without the presence of a judge, you’ll likely find that settling your case becomes much easier.
Devil’s Advocacy
While you work with the mediator to settle your family law case, your attorney and the mediator will play devil’s advocate regarding any scenario you negotiate with your spouse. This means that for every position you take, they will present an alternate reality where undesirable outcomes can arise from your decisions. If there is any doubt about whether your choice is the right one, they will highlight those potential risks.
The mediator is also a licensed family law attorney and has likely spent time arguing cases in front of the judge that your case is assigned. That means that he or she has a pretty decent idea about how the judge will rule on a particular subject. As such, you should take seriously what the mediator has to say. It is likely that he or she is basing their position as a mediator on how the judge is likely to rule once your case gets into their courtroom.
Work with one another and you can be successful
Whenever the subject of mediation comes up, someone inevitably tells me that their spouse is the most stubborn person in the world and that reaching a successful settlement won’t be possible. They argue and fight over minor issues throughout their entire marriage, so what hope is there to settle significant issues? However, something changes once they get to mediation. Most of the time, it means their spouse becomes more willing to compromise and meet halfway on divorce-related issues.
You will likely have to concede ground on certain issues in order to gain ground on others. If you are a father who wants to spend as much time with your child as possible, you may offer more child support in order to get that done.
Receiving an initial offer in a family law mediation
Most of the time you will not submit, nor will your spouse, the offer right off the bat that you expect to be accepted. Lowball offers are commonplace at the outset of mediation and then tend to get more reasonable as time passes. You cannot, however, use that low-ball offer to taint all of their remaining settlement offers that are made to you. Keep in mind that as you proceed forward both you and your spouse will become more willing to concede points to the other as time goes on.
What happens in mediation stays in mediation
Settlement negotiations that take place in a mediation session remain confidential unless you or your spouse indicate otherwise to the mediator. Expect that your spouse will not offer you the generous settlement proposals discussed during the prior week’s trial. You cannot use a mediation settlement offer against your opposing party to force them to increase their offer. If you made a reasonable settlement offer during mediation, you do not have to continue from that offer in subsequent negotiations.
There’s (basically) no going back once you settle your case in mediation
Mediated Settlement Agreements (MSA) are irrevocable. You and your spouse will have been working together for hours on end to settle your case in mediation. It would be a bitter pill to swallow if, the morning after mediation ends, one of you could simply call your attorney. You might declare that you are no longer interested in the settlement agreement.
An MSA is a document that will serve as the basis for drafting your final orders. You and your spouse are expected to follow the contents of the order until a later court modifies it. With that said, how can you be sure that you have an agreement in place that is worth accepting in order to end the divorce? The bottom line is that you have to be able to live with it for the near future. It is very unlikely that you will get everything that you want out of your divorce settlement. However, remember that the same applies to your spouse as well.
I advise clients to break down their list of goals into needs and wants. We have a few non-negotiables that will require stringent negotiation. You may have a longer list of things that you care about. However, you might not be willing to let them push your case into a trial or contested hearing. Working with your spouse to settle your case is an excellent way to eliminate the need for a long divorce case. It also reduces the associated stresses.
Do not judge a book by its cover when it comes to Mediated Settlement Agreements
Often, what you see in a Mediated Settlement Agreement can be misleading if you are unaware of the other circumstances in your case. It is unfair to look at an agreement and conclude that someone could have done better. Many circumstances come into play in every divorce, which could lead you to believe that a different outcome is possible.
Keep in mind that meditation allows you to keep your private affairs private. A trial will cause you to put your dirty laundry out on the line for everyone to see. This holds an invaluable importance that cannot be quantified solely in terms of dollars and cents. Furthermore, while the mediator charges a fee for attending mediation, it is significantly less than what you would pay your attorney for a trial.
As long as the judge believes that the mediated settlement agreement serves the best interests of the children, the judge will likely approve the drafted orders. This approval allows you and your spouse to personalize your case. You can make it reflect your unique circumstances to the greatest extent possible.
Conclusion
Texas family law mediation serves as a beacon of hope for families navigating challenging legal matters. As an alternative to contentious courtroom battles, mediation fosters open dialogue. It empowers individuals to participate in decision-making and promotes the preservation of important relationships. By embracing the principles of cooperation and compromise, parties can often find creative solutions. These solutions prioritize the well-being of everyone involved. As a vital component of the legal landscape, mediation offers a path toward resolution, understanding, and a brighter future for families across the Lone Star State.
Divorce and child custody trials- tomorrow’s subject matter
If you are unable to settle your family law case then the last step in a case is to attend a trial. Tomorrow’s blog post will detail the preparation for a trial and will cover what to expect in the trial itself.
In the meantime, if you have any questions about family law cases, in general, please contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Our licensed family law attorneys provide free consultations six days a week, where you can have your questions answered in a comfortable and pressure-free environment. We take a great deal of pride in being able to help people just like you who live and work in our community.
Our attorneys are experienced in handling cases in all family courts across southeast Texas. We will address your concerns head-on and talk to you about how we can best help you and your family. We understand how difficult family law cases can be and are here to assist you and advocate on your behalf. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Family law mediation in Texas typically involves both parties meeting in a neutral setting with a trained mediator. They will discuss and negotiate various aspects of their case, such as child custody, property division, and spousal support, with the goal of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
The rules of mediation in Texas can vary, but they generally include guidelines for the mediator’s conduct, confidentiality, and the mediation process itself. These rules are designed to ensure a fair and productive mediation session.
In Texas, mediation is often required for child custody disputes before taking the case to court. It gives parents an opportunity to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child.
Yes, mediated agreements, once signed by both parties, are legally binding in Texas. They can be enforced in court if necessary, making it crucial to carefully consider and understand the terms of any mediated settlement agreement.
The duration of mediation in Texas can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the willingness of both parties to cooperate. Some mediations can be resolved in a few sessions, while others may take several weeks or even months.
During mediation, it’s essential to avoid making inflammatory or disrespectful statements about the other party. Negative comments can hinder productive discussions and escalate tensions. It’s best to focus on finding common ground and constructive solutions.
The golden rule of mediation is to treat others with respect and fairness. It’s about fostering a collaborative atmosphere where both parties can express their concerns and interests without fear of judgment.
Preparing for mediation in Texas involves gathering relevant documents, understanding your goals and priorities, and considering potential solutions to the issues at hand. Having a clear understanding of your case and being open to compromise can enhance the mediation process.
Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Houston, Texas Divorce Lawyers
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding divorce, it’s important to speak with one of our Houston, TX Divorce Lawyers right away to protect your rights.
Our divorce lawyers in Houston TX are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC handles Divorce cases in Houston, Texas, Cypress, Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.
Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
