Mediation Services
Maddox & Gerock is now pleased to offer mediation services to clients and/or their attorneys to assist them in reaching mutually agreeable settlements in an effort to keep them out of court and potentially save them tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Partner Julie Curran Gerock has over 40 hours of mediation training and more than 20 years of family law experience.
What Is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, works with the parties to facilitate a resolution by helping the clients to develop solutions that work for them. \
Mediation is often a preferred alternative to litigation which can be emotionally, physically, and financially demanding. In litigation, individuals experiencing family law disputes (such as custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, and division of property, etc.) are limited by rules of evidence, court procedures, time, and the experience and patience of a single person- the judge. In contrast, in mediation, there are neither rules of evidence nor strict time limitations, and the parties and the mediator work together to reach a resolution to assist the family in moving forward in a respectful and collaborative manner.
While judges strive to make the right decisions, many judges do not have family law experience and may not fully understand the unique dynamics of families in conflict. Mediation is an opportunity to collaborate and achieve creative solutions to difficult issues that work for your unique family. While litigation may be appropriate in some cases, more often than not, a “won” case is a settled case. Further, the only way to have full control over the outcome is to resolve your family law matter outside of the courtroom. Once the parties enter the courtroom, a stranger (the judge) will decide the fate of your family and the division of your assets.
What To Expect
At Maddox & Gerock, we schedule mediation sessions in 2-3 hour blocks of time. The number of sessions it takes to reach a final resolution depends on the facts of each case, the nature of the issues in dispute, and the commitment of both parties to reach a resolution through the mediation process. Mediation fees are based on an hourly rate and paid at the time of mediation services.
Contact Us Today About Our Mediation Services
To schedule a mediation session or learn more about our mediation services, please contact us today at 703-883-8035.