Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

By Natalie Hinton

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

While mediation is most often used for custody matters, a judge may suggest that the parties also mediate the financial and property issues.

It is best to avoid discussing financial matters, such as property division or child support, while in custody mediation.

The financial and property issues require more background information in addressing their terms in a final order and can potentially impede one or both of the parties from working toward a resolution on the custody and visitation issues where one party is dissatisfied with how the property or financial issues are being addressed.

By Natalie Hinton

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

In preparing for settlement negotiations of legal and physical custody issues, it is vital for you to have a clear understanding of the disputed issues in your case and the applicable legal standards.

By reviewing with your attorney the pleadings that have been filed in your case, the legal criteria underlying each party’s initial requests, and options for a proposed agreement, you will be better armed to effectively negotiate. 

By Natalie Hinton

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

Mediation often provides immense benefits in cases with contested custody and visitation issues, but the procedures for mediation in a divorce case differ from state to state.

Mediation in divorce cases is generally used to address custody and visitation issues and provides a neutral forum away from the courtroom to discuss the most important, and most personal, aspect of ending a marriage – the children. 

Custody mediation is generally more about personal parenting goals than the legal status, such that custody issues can often be resolved, or at least narrowed, through the mediation process.

By Natalie Hinton

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C.

Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on orders of protection. Click here to read Part 1.

In the midst of a contested divorce case, some people resort to using Orders of Protection as an expedited means of obtaining custody of the children or exclusive possession of the marital home while their divorce case is pending.

Having knowledge of what an Order of Protection entails and what it can potentially add to a contested custody case enables clients to be better prepared for addressing the Order of Protection itself and keeping focused on the bigger picture of what is truly at stake.

By Natalie Hinton

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C.

Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series on orders of protection. Click here to read Part 2.

It has become all too common for a man to find himself in the midst of a contested divorce case faced with a spouse unwilling to agree on custody and visitation. When going through a divorce, particularly when children are involved and custody and visitation are in dispute, parties can become frustrated with the court process and the time and expense involved.

Unfortunately, this leads some people to resort to using Orders of Protection as an expedited means of obtaining custody of the children or exclusive possession of the marital home while their divorce case is pending. Judges strongly frown upon either party’s misuse of the court for such a purpose, and clients should speak to their attorneys upon being served with, or prior to filing, an Order of Protection in the midst of their divorce case in order to assess the nature of any abuse that may be occurring and options for addressing the abuse.

Having knowledge of what an Order of Protection entails and what it can potentially add to a contested custody case enables clients to be better prepared for addressing the Order of Protection itself and keeping focused on the bigger picture of what is truly at stake.