Wheaton Mediation Attorney

As an alternative to litigating each and every issue that is raised in your divorce case, you and your spouse can participate in mediation in an attempt to reach a complete agreement.  Mediation is conducted over a series of appointments between the parties and a trained mediator.  The role of a mediator is to facilitate an agreement.  The mediator will listen to the parties’ opinions and highlight any common ground between the two and rephrase the issues to present an understandable agreement.

It is important to understand that the mediation process is confidential.  Anything said during mediation can not be used in subsequent court proceedings either for or against one of the parties. Likewise, the mediator can not be called to testify in Court. Bottom line, what happens in mediation stays in mediation.

If mediation is successful, a Memorandum of Agreement is drafted and presented to the parties and/or their attorneys.  Then, a complete written agreement will be presented to the Judge on a final Court date.  If an agreement is not reached in mediation, the divorce process continues and the case proceeds to trial.

A successfully mediated agreement can benefit the parties in several ways.  First, by reaching an agreement a costly and time consuming trial is avoided.  Secondly, if you and your spouse are able to reach a complete agreement, then after the divorce is finalized,  you are both  more likely to live up to the terms of that agreement since it was reached through cooperation and not merely a  decision handed down by the Judge.

Susan Marie Pesch is a trained and certified family law mediator.  Her name is maintained on the list of Court approved mediators in both DuPage County and Kane County.  Susan is skilled at helping parties reach an agreement even on the  most difficult issues including custody, visitation and financial issues.

Pesch Law Office, P.C. maintains a good working relationship with other mediators in the area who can be utilized to help her clients reach an agreement when Susan is the attorney.

It is important to know that by Illinois Supreme Court Rule, if there is a custody or visitation dispute in your case, these issues must be discussed in mediation prior to proceeding to trial.  This Rule is based on the philosophy that parties are better able to resolve their own issues and be creative in the solutions which will help set the stage for an ongoing cooperative relationship after the divorce.  The philosophy behind the Rule has been embraced by Susan Marie Pesch of Pesch Law Office, P.C. whether acting as your attorney or whether acting as a mediator.