The process of divorce mediation is quite simple. The parties come in to my office together and, while I have been a lawyer for more than 30 years, I do not represent either party. Rather I work with both parties to reach an agreement on all of the issues that need to be resolved in order for a divorce to be granted. Those issues simply stated, are custody, visitation, support and division of assets. Once the agreement is reached I prepare it in a form that the judges are used to reading.
If the parties also prefer, I can prepare most of the other documents that must be filed with the court in order for a divorce to be granted. I send a three-page document describing what should be done before court, at court and after court as well as a ready-made letter from one of the parties to the court enclosing all the documents. The package is designed to be self-executing and most people do just that; by signing a series of documents, filling out financial statements and sending it into the court. If however you would like, for an additional minor charge I can also notarize your signatures, make copies and make sure everything is in the appropriate order and in a properly addressed envelope. How long it takes to get through the mediation process depends to a significant degree, upon the parties and how flexible and reasonable they are willing to be. In most cases the court's philosophy pretty squarely fits the parties’ situations and resolution of the case from the court's point of view is fairly obvious. I make everything quite clear so that the parties know just what is happening and why. Many parties are able to reach agreement after no more than a couple hours with me.Once all the documents are filed, there will be a very brief hearing at which you answer a few questions that the judge asks (most of the answers are yes) and that's the end of it. The hearing lasts less than five minutes and you never need go back to court again. A “Judgment of Divorce” will be issued and sent by the court 30 days after the hearing and it will be final and you can remarry 90 days after that. One of the things that many people find about mediation is that it makes divorce significantly quicker and easier than they thought possible.
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Roland Turmaine, Attorney
227 Chelmsford Street, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Tel: 978-250-4980
Fax: 978-256-7812
Email: Roloand@RolandTurmaine.com
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