The Wright Firm's Weblog

Heartbreak Hotel!

A company in the Netherlands is now offering “Divorce Hotel” services.  The concept was created by Dutchman Jim Halfens.  As part of the divorce weekend package, a divorcing couple receives two nights in the nights in the hotel, legal counsel for each spouse, a notary public and a psychologist.  An estate planner, on-site child care and even a bottle of champagne to toast the divorce are available a la carte.

Halfens says that this is less like a weekend getaway for the couple and more like a structured business conference.  The first meeting begins bright and early Saturday morning after breakfast and continues with very little breaks until a deal is reached – even if that’s late into Sunday night.  The weekend divorce deal is not suited to complex property divisions or hotly contested custody cases.  However, for sensible couples who “won’t smash the furniture” and don’t want to miss work for court hearings or mediations, the “divorce hotel” offers an unusual solution.

No similar service is available stateside right now, but the Wright Firm is always open to creative ways of resolving your divorce case!  We have two family law attorneys trained in collaborative law, and we also offer flat-rate plans for uncontested divorces.  To learn more about these services, check out our websites at www.thewrightlawyers.com and www.NoFrillsTexasDivorce.com! 

Original article can be found here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10744656

 

New Texas Mediator Rules!

 

In the legal profession, we are used to the law changing. Now the rules for mediators are changing. Effective June 1, 2011, mediators will have additional obligations to the parties. Mediators have always been required to remain neutral and not provide the parties legal advice. A new addition to mediators conduct is that a mediator should not knowingly misrepresent any material fact or circumstance in the course of the mediation.  As of June 1^st mediators will be required to disclose any possible conflicts of interest prior to the commencement of the mediation. This disclosure should include any interest in the subject matter of the lawsuit or any known relationships with the parties. The final change is that mediators should not conduct more than one mediation simultaneously without the consent of all the parties. 

 

Contact The Wright Firm today to have Cynthia Palmer mediate your case.  You can reach the firm at 972-353-4600 or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com.

This Site is a public resource for general information about The Wright Firm, L.L.P. and Texas Law.  Nothing in this Site should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this Site without seeking advice from your own attorney. Use and access to this Site or any materials or information provided on this Site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Wright Firm, L.L.P. or any of its attorneys,  nor is this Site a substitute for legal advice. Any information submitted by you by The Wright Firm, L.L.P. or its attorneys via this Site, an email, or any form of social media communication will not be considered an attorney-client communication or otherwise be treated as confidential or privileged in the absence of an executed Engagement Agreement between you and The Wright Firm, L.L.P. or its attorneys.

 <a href="http://www.blogcatalog.com">BlogCatalog</a>

 

 

Getting from Point A to Settlement: What is the Mediation Process?

You’ve just been informed by your attorney or the court that you are set for mediation. What does that mean for you? What is the process for mediation? Is there even a set process for mediation?

Mediation means something different to every party involved in a lawsuit, but mediation as a part of the legal system offers every party in a lawsuit the opportunity to craft their own settlement rather than having a judge or jury determine their fate. Each mediation will have its own unique flow and personality based on the type of case being mediated, but in general there are 6 steps to a formal mediation.

1. Introductory Remarks: The mediator takes the opportunity to introduce themselves to the parties and introduce the parties and respective legal counsel to one another. It is possible that the parties and/or their legal counsel may have never met in person until the day of mediation. The mediator will also take the opportunity to explain their role in reaching a settlement and the rules for the mediation. Many times, especially in Texas and in family law cases, the mediator will then separate the parties.
2. Statement of the Issues: The mediator will give each party the opportunity to state their case, uninterrupted, to both the mediator and the other party. Either the lawyer for the party or the party themselves will make this statement.
3. Information Gathering: The mediator will ask the parties questions about the case and settlement issues.
4. Problem Identification: This can be done as part of the Information Gathering segment or separate depending on the mediator, type of case and the parties.
5. Generating Options: The mediator will work with each party to develop settlement options and discuss the viability of those options. These options are then merged into the final step of mediation—
6. Reaching an Agreement.

 

Other than the Introductory Remarks, the steps in the mediation process are very fluid and in most cases will overlap one another. Mediators develop their own personal style of working through these steps and their personality will influence how they handle each of the steps. There may be times that you feel that the mediator is simply chatting with you, but in reality the mediator is most likely trying to determine what your temperament and personality are by learning more about you as an individual. Knowing a party’s personality and temperament help the mediator develop a strategy to get to the last step of mediation-- agreement. 

 

If you need a mediator to mediate your case, contact Cynthia Palmer at The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com.

This Site is a public resource for general information about The Wright Firm, L.L.P. and Texas Law.  Nothing in this Site should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this Site without seeking advice from your own attorney. Use and access to this Site or any materials or information provided on this Site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Wright Firm, L.L.P. or any of its attorneys,  nor is this Site a substitute for legal advice. Any information submitted by you by The Wright Firm, L.L.P. or its attorneys via this Site, an email, or any form of social media communication will not be considered an attorney-client communication or otherwise be treated as confidential or privileged in the absence of an executed Engagement Agreement between you and The Wright Firm, L.L.P. or its attorneys.