When it comes to separation and divorce of a couple who have children, people often minimize the effects it can have on the man and his role as a father. The truth is when dads divorce they are just as impacted as their spouse, particularly when they are facing the possibility of not seeing their children as often as they’re used to. In just about every situation, mediation can be used to ease the minds of everyone involved and to reach an agreement that is fair and acceptable to both parties.

The beauty of mediation as an alternative to traditional litigated divorce, particularly in terms of the father, is that it provides a comfortable, relaxed setting in which all of the concerns of both parties can be brought up and openly discussed. Many times when dads divorce, they feel that they’ll automatically lose many of their rights as a parent. This doesn’t have to be the case. Mediation helps to dispel this myth and create equitable arrangements that work for both spouses.

Divorce is much more complicated when children are involved. Suddenly it’s not just a matter of husband and wife, but of the family unit as a whole and how it will change. When moms and dads divorce, they have to consider much more than just their own feelings and emotions, but also those of their children. The goal is to develop a personalized parenting plan that takes into account all of the unique factors of each family.

Unlike traditional divorces, mediation doesn’t assume one parent is better suited over the other based solely on facts and statistics. Rather, both parents are treated equally and are encouraged to work together amicably with their children’s best interest in mind.

Mediation addresses the following areas of concerns for divorcing parents:

Each of these things is dealt with in a way that is fair and agreeable to both parties and are carefully considered by:

One of the things my male clients often express after meeting with me is the relief they feel in knowing that when dads divorce, it doesn’t mean they’re divorcing their children. In fact, through effective mediation, fathers can develop even stronger bonds with their kids. When both parents work together, the parenting plan they come up with is most often more beneficial for the entire family than that which may have been ordered by a judge in a litigated divorce. This involves scheduling flexible visitation that allows both parents ample time with the children. Mediators also focus on helping both parents realize the importance of fostering healthy, loving relationships between the children and their former spouse, resulting in a more peaceful, amicable situation.