Although the practices vary from one county to another, most disputes involving child custody or child support in Indiana will need to go through mediation before the family court judge will hear and resolve them in a divorce case. Mediation does not mean that you will be forced into a compromise of the disputed issue, but only that you will be given the chance to find a way to resolve the problem through agreement rather than litigation. To make the most of your mediation session, contact the Law Offices of Tony Zirkle at one of our four Indiana locations.
Indianapolis divorce attorney Tony Zirkle can help you identify and define your objectives so that your position can be presented as clearly and persuasively as possible to the mediator. If the parties are not far from agreement, the mediator can facilitate a negotiated settlement that meets the essential needs of both sides. The mediator might also recognize that the dispute cannot be settled and pass the matter on to the court, with or without a recommendation. At the Law Offices of Tony Zirkle, we make sure that your interests are fully protected in mediation while taking advantage of the opportunity to avoid the risk and expense of a court hearing.
For divorcing spouses with approximately equal bargaining leverage and income, court hearings can be avoided altogether through collaborative divorce. This relatively new approach to the resolution of difficult issues in a divorce case requires a commitment from each spouse to work toward a negotiated settlement or all outstanding issues, from property division to parenting time. Each spouse is represented by a lawyer, but the object is to avoid court rather than to rely on a judge to resolve disputes. Through collaborative divorce, both sides are spared the uncertainty, expense, and stress of litigation by committing to a negotiated resolution of issues relating to property, spousal maintenance, and each parent's support and access to the children.
For more information about our ability to advise and represent you effectively in either a mediation session or a collaborative divorce, contact the Law Offices of Tony Zirkle in Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, or Crown Point.
