When I first brought my complicated, long and drawn out case to Sam Stoorman and Nicole Hanson’s table, I expected them to do what most had, shake their heads and turn me away. I had attempted to file on my own after needing a restraining order and a restriction of parenting. I quickly discovered that I needed help after several failed attempts of removing my children from clearly hostile and dangerous environment with their father. After meeting with Mr. Stoorman and Ms. Hanson, I turned over my stacks of papers and accumulated court documents and knew that I finally had found a good one (I had several bad lawyer’s to this point). They were able to suggest ideas such as the use of a Child Family Investigator to help our case. They also helped me to obtain info that I did not have access to and just didn’t know how to get my hands on due to all the red tape and legal issues. Nicole has also been great about any follow-up questions since court. They were highly professional and were able to make the process quick to help me remove my children before anything really bad happened to them. I now have full custody and decision making of the children and they are both doing well and adjusting to a more laid back lifestyle with their step dad and myself where we are able to provide stability and amazing opportunities such as travel, sports and most important, college!
Advantages of Mediation
For divorcing spouses who can effectively communicate and compromise to make decisions, mediation may be a suitable alternative to litigated divorce. Alternative dispute resolution methods such as divorce mediation are becoming more popular, in part because of the many benefits that can result, such as: reduced stress, reduced legal fees and fewer court appearances. Cases resolved through mediation are generally resolved faster than the traditional courtroom method.
Who is a candidate for Divorce Mediation?
Divorce Mediation encourages spouses seeking divorce to amicably communicate with one another in order to mutually agree on the terms of important family issues, including child custody, child support, visitation, spousal support and property division. This option may not be the right choice for all couples, especially in the case of a contested divorce.
During the process, a mediator acts as a neutral third party to help you resolve your legal issues. Being impartial, a mediator will not advise or advocate for either side, but instead facilitates a discussion that gets to the heart of both parties’ concerns and helps them find workable solutions. The mediation process can be voluntary and client driven and can produce creative, individualized solutions that can better meet the needs of the family than a court-ordered solution. Alternatively, you should expect that the court will order you and your spouse to engage in some form of alternative dispute resolution once your case has been started.
For the most favorable result, and regardless of whether mediation is voluntary or court ordered, it is advised that couples seeking divorce mediation retain the counsel and guidance of a trusted divorce lawyer with effective negotiating skills.
Choose a Skilled Mediator
At Stoorman, Hanson & van der Valk, P.C., we represent clients going through divorce with great care, dedication, experience and skilled legal counsel. When a client and their spouse decide to take advantage of the benefits of divorce mediation, we will provide sound preparation, legal advice and guidance to help you confidently and effectively make informed and intelligent decisions for your family’s future. Our firm will provide you with the trustworthy, caring advice you need to face this difficult process.
We represent clients throughout the front range of Colorado.
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