A Story Many Minnesota Families Can Relate To. When Sarah and Mark realized their marriage was ending, the hardest part wasn’t the separation, it was figuring out how to support their two kids through the transition. Between work schedules, school activities, and mounting tension at home, they struggled to find the time and space to sit down and create a parenting plan that truly worked. After one particularly stressful
When Sarah and Tom decided to separate after 15 years of marriage, they were both overwhelmed. Between raising two kids, managing finances, and maintaining a home, the idea of going through a long, expensive court battle felt unbearable. That’s when they heard about divorce mediation—a process that allowed them to work together with a neutral professional to reach their own agreements. They wondered, though: Would their mediated agreement carry the same weight as a legal settlement?
This is one of the most common questions individuals ask when exploring mediation, and it’s an important one.
Divorce after 50—often called “gray divorce”—is becoming more common as couples reevaluate their lives, priorities, and goals later in life. Unlike younger couples, those in their 50s and beyond often face complex emotional and financial considerations such as retirement accounts, pensions, real estate, and adult children. Traditional litigation can make this process stressful, expensive, and emotionally draining.
A comprehensive custody settlement typically addresses three key areas: legal custody, physical custody, and child support. Each component plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of your child and fostering a cooperative co-parenting relationship.
Mediation offers a confidential and less adversarial environment for resolving custody matters. Unlike court
Divorce settlements are designed to address the circumstances of both parties at the time of the agreement. However, life is dynamic, and situations can change significantly after a divorce is finalized. When such changes occur, revisiting and modifying the original court orders may become necessary. Mediated post-decree settlements offer a constructive and efficient approach to addressing these modifications.
One of the most difficult and sometimes contentious issues to resolve during a divorce settlement is how to divide joint property. Over your marriage, you may not even realize how much property you have accumulated as a couple and a family. Furniture, cars, jewelry and property may come to mind immediately, but things like retirement income, pensions, investment income and even pets must also be divided when you divorce.
The safety of clients, ourselves, and colleagues is our top priority while we remain available to assist you as you navigate the new and uncharted territory caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
While providing virtual ADR services was not part of our plan, we have made the necessary accommodations to ensure we can continue to serve our clients during these unsettling times. All services are currently available through virtually. We are using Zoom for videoconferencing. We suggest that you download this app to your phone or the program to your computer at https://zoom.us/download.
We have resumed limited in-person services for sessions with 1 or 2 participants scheduled for a maximum of 2 hours. Masks are required in our building and in session. Availability is subject to change based on local regulations and CDC guidelines.
Our office hours remain the same and we remain available by phone and email. The main office number is 952.252.1492. Gabe can be reached via email at gabe@amsmediationplus.com.
We offer free 1-hour divorce consultations via Zoom. Potential PC and PTE clients are invited to schedule a free 15-minute phone call. Please call 952.252.1492 to set up an appointment. We are here to help!
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all continue to adapt to these rapidly changing and chaotic times. Stay strong, stay resilient, and stay healthy!
Sincerely,
Amber Serwat & Gabe Frye
ADR Professional & ADR Assistant
