Are You Ready To Begin The Next Chapter In Your Life
Why Mediate
Avoid the emotional and financial strife caused by divorce
Less Stressful,Confidential.
Mediation occurs in a controlled, confidential setting, which minimizes arguments between the parties and which allows each party to hear and consider what the other party is saying without the need for an immediate defensive response. Mediation can be an effective means for parties to begin the process of learning to communicate with each other in a more civil less pressured way.
Less Expensive
Mediation is generally much more cost effective than the parties proceeding to a contested court hearing, which may involve attorney fees and costs in the tens of thousands of dollars, require the involvement of expensive experts, and result in years of litigation, including possible appeals.
Benefits of Divorce Mediation
There are many advantages to divorce mediation.
- Controls costs, both emotionally and financially.
- Benefits the children by reducing conflict between parents.
- Enables parties to emerge from divorce with self-respect.
- Confidential process the parties control rather than attorneys and judges.
- Customized agreements for your unique situation.
- Greater degree of control over outcome.
How Mediation Works
Mediation in divorce is a process in which an unbiased third party, a mediator, helps divorcing parties reach agreement on contested issues. These issues generally include division of property and debt, and each parent’s responsibilities regarding child custody, visitation, and child support.
Mediation gives you the opportunity to say what is important to you, and hear your spouse’s perspective in a civilized and fair setting. As you work through each issue, you design for yourselves a workable agreement that you both can live with. The solutions you reach together are tailored to your specific circumstances. If an agreement can be reached, it is reduced to writing and signed by the parties. This agreement is binding on the parties and converted into a divorce judgment that is entered with the court.
Who is the Mediator
Experienced.
Our law practice is led by attorney Edward Shaw, who has more than 27 years of experience. Mr. Shaw has been a lecturer on the law and has authored a weekly article in a local newspaper devoted to legal issues. Prior to becoming a divorce attorney, Mr. Shaw was employed at a large accounting firm where he was involved in the area of divorce, estate planning and tax litigation support, which included businesses and pension valuations and the analysis of various financial and tax issues.
Unbiased.
The role of the mediator is to guide and assist you and your spouse as you problem solve, rather than to impose solutions to conflicts as a judge would do. The mediator remains neutral to both parties, and keeps the issues clear.
The mediator does not provide legal advice to either party during the meetings. Rather, the mediator navigates you through difficult discussions and helps you both to explore your options, with the goal of reaching solutions that you and your spouse find fair and acceptable.

ANN ARBOR
2723 S. State Street
Ste 150
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
NOVI
42705 Grand River Ave.
Ste 201
Novi, Michigan 48375
PLYMOUTH
296 South Main St.
Ste 206
Plymouth, MI 48170