The Divorce Mediation Handbook - by Paula D James (Paperback)

About the Book

A one-stop resource for couples who want to spare themselves and their children the destructiveness and costs which result from an unfriendly divorce, this detailed mediation road map walks couples through each step of the process and shows how to reach a fair and reasonable settlement. Charts & worksheets.

Book Synopsis

A FriAndlier and Less Expensive Divorce

Clients arriving in your office are usually confused about whatmediation means, their legal rights, and how it's all going to besorted out. You spAnd a good deal of your time just trying toeducate them enough to proceed.

The Divorce Mediation Handbook does much of this work for you. Itexplains the mediation procedure and reassures your clients thatthey can indeed work out their divorce in a reasonable and civilmanner in mediation. It also gives them a great deal of informationabout

* how children respond to divorce
* how property issues are addressed
* how future support may be considered
* how to prepare for mediation

Paula James, who has mediated over 600 divorces, offers thedivorcing couple an encouraging and highly informative book toprepare them for your first session and the work ahead.

From the Back Cover

Step-by-step guide through the supportive process of divorce mediation. Author Paula James, an expert in the field of divorce mediation, presents a clear view of what actually takes place in the mediation sessions and shows how couples can use the process to create a friAndlier and less expensive divorce. James also shows how couples can work through the thorny legal and financial issues of divorce--property division, child support, custody, and alimony--by creating a positive environment that will short-circuit the emotional maelstrom and punitive costs that so often shatter families and finances.

Review Quotes

"This is a well organized and straightforward book, written ineveryday language, with easily accessible anecdotes the reader caneither identify with or gain perspective from them." (MediationNews)

"An informative guide for everyone who is involved in the divorcemediation process." (Diane Neumann, past-president, Academy ofFamily Mediators and author of Choosing a Divorce Mediator: A Guideto Helping Couples Find a Competent Mediator)

"Based on her extensive experience as a divorce mediator, PaulaJames explains why couples seeking a divorce should mediate and howto do so. Clear, interesting, informative. A must read for troubledmarriages." (Robert Coulson, former CEO of the American ArbitrationAssociation)

"The real strength of this book is its detailed discussions of theissues a divorcing couple must address, regardless of how theydissolve their marriage. . . . RecommAnded for consumer lawcollections."

?The Divorce Mediation Handbook should be offered to divorcingfamilies by court clerks, clergy, lawyers, therapists, andmediators. Paula James has demystified the mediation process andthis book helps divorcing spouses make better informed choicesabout how to take control of their lives, protect their legalrights, and reduce the financial transaction costs in Anding amarriage.? (Forrest S. Mosten, certified family law specialist andmediator, Los Angeles, California and author of The Complete Guideto Mediation)

"[James] provides the reader a solid basis for understanding thepersonal costs of divorce, for both the spouses and the children.The book is well written and will well meet the needs of literateclients who are going through the divorce process, whether or notthey decide to use mediation."

About the Author

PAULA JAMES a family law attorney with 15 years of experience, is a full-time mediator, national speaker, and trainer in family law mediation. She lives in Austin, Texas.