Divorce Mediation
Fraier & Maillet, P.C. provides divorce mediation services to families in the Worcester and MetroWest areas. Our mediation methodology serves to create a nurturing and supportive environment in order to promote positive communication and balance power differences. Mediation addresses all legal issues as required by the court, while minimizing the cost and stress of divorce in the privacy of our office, rather than in a public courtroom.
Divorce can be one of the most challenging experiences in life. The process can be lengthy, expensive, and emotionally taxing for the entire family.
Divorce mediation seeks to end your marriage in a civil manner and to make the transition to the next stage of your life as amicable and stress-free as possible. With our guidance, you take control of your divorce and work at your own pace to determine how to separate your finances and protect the well-being of your children.
Save Your Family’s Resources
When you come to the divorce process, finances are probably already stretched. NOW you are facing the idea of supporting two households.
A high-priced divorce attorney is likely the last place where you want to spend your money. Mediation can help you contain the expense of divorce and keep your savings intact for your family.
Save Your Family’s Relationships
Even though you’re ending your marriage, your relationship as parents is going to continue. Chances are your communication has been strained. Litigation may make that worse. Whether or not your children are directly involved, they are often aware that their parents are not on the same page.
Mediation gives you a chance to develop new ways to communicate more effectively. It is a process of collaboration — we help you identify your family’s priorities in order to make those parenting decisions together.
Mediation Preserves Your Family’s Privacy
The courtroom is a very public forum to air your differences and discuss solutions to your personal and financial circumstances.
Mediation allows for confidential exchange of information and documents.
The judge will only see the ultimate Agreement you reach, as a result of your private negotiations.
You are in Control of the Process
Divorce makes people feel like their lives are in chaos because everything is changing at the same time. You are separating from your spouse, separating your finances and you may be moving out of your home.
Litigation may tend to make you feel more out of control. Once a divorce is filed, there are hearings, schedules and deadlines that serve the court’s calendar — not yours.
Mediation allows you to proceed at your own pace and in your time.
You Design Your Parenting Plan
Every family situation is unique and different in terms of the schedules and needs of the parents and their children. Some parents work nights and weekends, while others have schedules that change weekly.
The court has specific parenting plans that they implement when parents can’t agree. After a quick hearing, you might get a court order that isn’t at all workable for you and your family.
Mediation allows you to tailor your parenting plan to best fit your circumstances.
You Design Your Financial Plan
Many times, people have a preference to keep one or more of the assets intact, such as the house or a retirement plan. Others prefer to divide all of the assets so that each of the parties has a portion of each of the assets.
When parties can’t agree, Judges will normally look at each and every asset and award a portion of that asset to each spouse — which may not look like what each of you envisioned.
Mediation allows you the flexibility to divide your assets and debt — your way.
We File Your Documents with the Court
Your main goal in mediation is to reach an agreement that can be filed with the court.
Most mediators will provide you with that completed agreement but that’s just the first step toward finalizing your divorce.
Our firm will prepare all of the other necessary documents, witness your signatures and file the divorce package with the court, relieving you of the time and stress of completing the process.
We Attend Hearing and Present Your Agreement to the Court
Every mediated divorce must be presented to a judge for approval. We understand that attending your divorce hearing may be a stressful event.
Our firm is unique, in that you have the option to request that we attend your hearing with you. The court appearance allows us to walk you through the process and answer any questions you have.
The court appreciates the mediator’s presence at hearing, to explain the terms of the agreement and answer any questions posed by the judge.
We Assist with Your Post Divorce Issues
Mediators are not normally involved in dividing your assets and liabilities after your hearing.We will help you if you need to refinance your home, prepare a new will or divide retirement plans.
We are happy to make this process as stress free as possible for you from beginning to end.