Like other mediations, a financial mediator services as a neutral facilitator rather than as an advocate & advisor representing one party in the divorce. The facilitator provides a structured process to guide the clients toward mutually agreeable decisions.
Participating in mediation for financial matters in divorce can be a constructive, non-contentious means of coming to agreement on financial issues in your divorce process.
Alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation are more likely to result workable decisions that are more likely to be kept and more likely to support a doable relationship going forward.
A financial mediator brings financial knowledge, insight, and understanding to the table to guide clients through current challenges and helps to foresee potential issues in the future.
A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst brings specialized knowledge to works with clients. Services include:
Characterizing and evaluating assets
Developing budgets and projections to address financial needs post-divorce
Looking at long term implications of settlement decisions
Determining after-tax values & basis of property
Financial mediation begins with a discussion to identify needs, wants, wishes and concerns as they relate to:
The mediation process
The children
Property
Taxes
Anything else that applies
From this point the clients and mediator identify the items requiring decisions and decide on actions to move forward. The decision oriented discussions that follow focus on information from the identified interests and agreed upon information to identify possible options and solutions.
Typical challenges that may be addressed in financial mediation
What to do with the house
Support needs analysis
Dividing children’s expenses including college
Dividing assets across asset classes including
Retirement funds
Cash and Investment assets
Real Estate
Highly Appreciated property