Divorce Mediation
South Jersey & Philadelphia
William H. Donahue, Jr, Esq., APM
609-238-9245
Married Mediators: Joan Goldsmith and Ken Cloke
An interview with Joan Goldsmith and Ken Cloke about mediation, being married to a mediator, and the future of mediation. Recorded and shared as part of the Mediation 20/20 Conference.
Exploring Agreement - Readiness for Divorce Mediation
This article describes a private reflective exercise that may be helpful in assessing your current state of readiness to mediate your divorce.
Why is the Pandemic Causing a Spike in Divorce?
At the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak, many experts predicted a sharp increase in divorce rates. This has played out a bit differently than expected.
How To Prepare For Your First Divorce Mediation Session
The decision to get divorced is often not an easy one. But what happens when you don’t want a full-blown series of court cases surrounding this experience?
To Mediate or Not to Mediate Your Child Custody Case
There are many benefits of using mediation in your child custody case. Mediation gives you the final say over the type of custody you get and the other terms of your parenting plan.
4 Tips to Make the Most of Your Divorce Mediation Process
Divorce mediation has great advantages over the aggressive and unpredictable process of divorce litigation.
Why is Gray Divorce Becoming Increasingly Common?
A “gray divorce” occurs when a senior couple ends their marriage after years or decades of togetherness.
5 Questions to Ask Your Potential Family Mediator
This article addresses five important questions parents should ask a family mediator before hiring them. These questions could help parents find the right professional to guide them toward an agreement.
Top 5 Co-parenting Apps for Mediation
A good co-parenting app helps parents feel focused and organized heading into mediation. Here are the best co-parenting apps so you can choose the right one for your family.
Working with Financial Neutrals
One of the hardest problems that a divorcing couple may face is how to divide up marital property.
Domestic Violence and Family Mediation
Domestic violence is a prevalent problem in Canada. Unfortunately, family violence is a genuine reality for many families.
Do You Love Yourself Enough So No One Dares to Hurt You?
This article is a mantra for those who are navigating difficult conflicts.
“My Story” Featuring Cristina Pereyra-Alvarez, Retired Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Florida
When asked what advice she has for the next generation of ADR professionals, Mrs. Pereyra-Alvarez says, "Always go in with an open mind. Always believe that you are going to resolve the case, no matter what." This is a biography of her career path.
Preparing and Paying for QDROs in Divorce
The responsibilities of a plan administrator include reviewing QDROs or DROs and then distributing the funds to the non-plan participant spouse once they have approved the order--which become difficult in a separation.
Who Wears the Pants in Your Family?
So much has changed! When I was growing up, the expectation for middle-class marriages (which were always between women and men) was that it was the man’s job to earn enough money to support the family, and it was the woman’s job was to have children and to contribute to the economy by spending money.
The Significance of Nonverbal Communication in Mediation and Arbitration
Nonverbal communication may impact participants’ thoughts and emotions in a mediation or arbitration and should be considered when evaluating communication feedback during these sessions.
3 Ways Parents Can Help Their Kids Adjust
As parents, we try to protect our kids from undue stress. But the reality is that life is inherently stressful. While we may not be able to protect our kids from all stress we can help them learn to cope and adjust.
Multi-Jurisdictional Issues in Online Mediation
With an increase in remote mediation, many mediators are managing caseloads that have a multi-jurisdictional element (at times, unintentionally). This paper will define what issues may arise in a multi-jurisdictional mediation process, and focus on the necessary training elements to handle these multi-jurisdictional implications.
The Five Divorces
Lonnie and Chris got married right out of college.¹ They had a lot of ups and downs, and over time, they grew apart. After 20 years, they decided to divorce.
Online Mediation Training Task Force Family / Elder Committee Report
The Family and Elder Committee was initially tasked with Considering the Following Questions: 1) How can family and elder mediation training be improved to embrace online mediation; and 2) How can family and elder mediation training best be offered online, for basic training, advanced training, and ongoing continuing education?
The Long Term Psychological Effects of Divorce on Children
Growing up is complicated enough on its own. Having parents' divorce can make it even harder. To avoid the psychological effects of divorce on children, parents should go through the process gracefully.
Now More than Ever, Creativity is Needed in Divorces
We live in an uncertain world where things can change radically at the drop of a hat. We experienced this last year in a huge way with the Covid-19 outbreak.
3 Strategies for Effective Co-Parenting
Above all, remember that co-parenting is about your kids.
Confirmation Bias: Something Mediators Need to Appreciate
As far as I can tell, much of the research on how neural functions affect mediation has been done in the last 20 years.