Child custody cases that make the news or that you read about online are highly contentious, adversarial and all out war. In reality, however, in these types of child custody cases there are no winners. Kids understand — perhaps more than we ever know — exactly what is going on and feel torn between two parents that they love. There is an alternative strategy for developing a fair and equitable child custody arrangement in Minnesota. AMS Mediation offers a wide variety of services to help couples who want to settle the terms of their child custody agreement without costly court battles that very often increase conflict.
Solving Child Custody Issues Without Going to Court
Minnesota courts endorse the use of mediation (or another Alternative Dispute Resolution method) before you appear in court. As a result, the majority of custody cases in Minnesota are settled before they even reach a courtroom. This is extremely beneficial to all involved, especially your children. AMS Mediation offers the following child custody support services:
- Divorce mediation: Divorce mediation can help you settle all aspects of your divorce without litigation. You and your spouse can meet several times with a trained and experienced divorce mediator to work to come to solutions that are fair and equitable and that, perhaps most importantly, work for your family. Divorce mediation is less expensive than a court battle and generally takes significantly less time.
- Early Neutral Evaluations: AMS Mediation can also complete early neutral evaluations, where a member of our team assesses your case and gives you professional, unbiased feedback about how your case might go in court.
- Custody Evaluations: A custody evaluator (CE) can be appointed by the court if you and your partner are unable to settle the terms of your custody agreement. Our custody evaluator will complete an investigation (that includes interviews, home visits and medical records), a written report and, if necessary, testimony in court.
- Parenting Consultant: A parenting consultant (PC) is appointed by the court to determine legally binding decisions to resolve a wide variety of parenting disputes. A PC can be chosen by the parents and can work with families on a broad range of issues related to your children. The role of a PC is to develop an agreement that puts the needs of the child first, as defined by Minnesota law.
- Parenting Time Expeditor: A parenting time expeditor (PTE) can also make legally binding decisions to resolve many different parenting disputes related to custody, without litigation. A PTE focuses more specifically than a PC on issues of parenting time and access.
Experienced Child Support Services, Minnesota
If you are struggling to find a way to develop a child custody arrangement that is workable for your family, you have options, without having to go to court. Amber Serwat of AMS Mediation specializes in helping families solve Minnesota child custody issues. Call her at 952-252-1492 to schedule a free consultation.
