Many men in Omaha find themselves in the middle of a conflict over custody and parenting time. Sometimes, conflicts emerge at the outset of a paternity or a divorce proceeding, while at other times, a couple may find that they can no longer agree on the terms of a Nebraska parenting plan.
At least in Douglas County, judges may require a couple to give mediation a try before they bring their custody or parenting time disputes before the court. Perhaps the most important thing a man should remember about mediation is that he is never compelled to make any agreement. Moreover, what he says and what proposals he offers for the purpose of compromising are not admissible later should the couple wind up having to go to court.
Basically, a neutral third party, called a mediator, will work with both the man and the mother of his children to see what can be done to negotiate the dispute. Usually, the mediator has some experience with both family law and family dynamics and will typically use that knowledge to help the couple reach an agreement.
The mediator may elect to meet with the couple alone or may invite attorneys to participate in the process. He or she may also decide to meet with the couple over a number of sessions and may even help draft a parenting plan if the couple does manage to successfully negotiate. In such cases, a man can, and should, have his attorney look over the agreement before he signs it.
While mediation won’t be workable in every situation, Omaha men should keep an open mind about it. The process has a number of advantages that can be talked over with their attorneys.