Key Issues That We Will Discuss

This is just a small sample of topics that are discussed in your parenting mediation. Your mediator will guide you through a comprehensive process that not only includes the sample subject areas, but through areas which are often left unaddressed and unresolved.  Your final product will be a parenting agreement that is broad yet concise, covering not only what is contained in this partial list, but also the most challenging and conflict stimulating areas of child rearing.

TIME SHARING

  • Time spent with each parent
    • Day-to-day schedule
    • Summer vacation
    • Holidays
    • Child care
  • Relocating

CHILD SUPPORT

  • Calculation
  • Conditions of adjustment
  • How paid

EDUCATION

  • Areas of decision making authority
  • Parental involvement/records
  • College
    • Decisions
    • How funded?

PARENTAL COMMUNICATION, ETHICS, AND CHILD DISCIPLINE

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Vacations and travel – Permissions/notifications
  • Owning/operating firearms/cars/motorcycles/ATVs/boats
  • New parental partners and how they interact with your child

REAL ESTATE

  • Family residence
  • Rental Property
  • Vacation property – including timeshares
  • Business/Investment property

BUSINESS & RELATED

  • Asset values
  • Business valuations

DEBTS

  • Personal Loans
  • Credit card debts
  • Past taxes

MEDICAL AND INSURANCE

  • On whose policy do the children go
    • Health and hospitalization
    • Dental/Orthodontia
    • Vision
    • Mental health

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE

  • Faith/denomination decision making
  • Do the kids attend services?

EXPENSES

  • Extracurricular activities
    • Areas of decision making authority
    • How activities are paid
  • Medical
    • Decisions – Who makes the “tough” decision?
    • Copays, co-insurance, prescriptions – how paid?
    • Orthodontist – how paid?

PERSONAL PROPERTY

  • Savings and bank accounts
  • Stocks, bonds, other securities and investment accounts
  • Government Pension Plans
  • Deferred Compensation Plans
  • IRAs, 401k, 403b
  • Stock Options, ESOPs
  • Tax refunds
  • Refunds due, amounts owed, back taxes
  • Life Insurance Value
  • Educational Accounts
  • Collectibles, art, firearms, jewelry
  • Club memberships, season tickets
  • Pets
  • Household Items/furniture
  • Vehicles – value, titling after assignment

SPOUSAL SUPPORT

  • Appropriateness –What are the future financial needs of each spouse?
  • How Paid
  • Amount
  • Duration
  • Circumstances when increased, reduced, suspended, terminated; one-time cash settlement