Choosing a Divorce Mediator: A Guide to Help Divorcing Couples Find a Competent Mediator [Paperback]

Diane Neumann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1997

More & more couples are turning to mediation as the civilized way to reach a settlement & to reduce the financial & emotional costs of divorce. But as the use of mediation soars, so does the critical need for information about how to find someone who is competent. It shows couples how to deal with issues such as how to arrange visitation & care of children, how to divide property fairly, & how to settle alimony, debt, & insurance. This book describes how to obtain names of possible mediators & the specific areas of expertise a mediator should have, & provides a list of questions to ask as well as explanations to make sense of the answers.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a comprehensive guide to the generally unfamiliar process of selecting a divorce mediator. In explaining the process, Neumann goes into significant detail about mediation itself, an added benefit for couples considering that route. Past president of the Academy of Family Mediators, author of Divorce Mediation: How To Cut the Cost and Stress of Divorce, (Holt, 1989. o.p.), and longtime mediator, Neumann knows her business. In a field where there are plenty of pretenders and few standards, she discusses 21 possible needs a couple may have and should prioritize before seeking a mediator. While the book is clear and well organized, couples may be so overwhelmed by all the factors Neumann suggests they consider they may elect to skip mediation and leave the job to lawyers. Recommended for public libraries.?Julie Denny, Alliance for Mediation & Conflict Resolution Inc., Amenia, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

During the 1980s, the cultural attitude toward divorce took a spin. Whereas people used to condemn divorce seekers, now they want to help them. Those who evidently help the most are a burgeoning breed of "divorce mediators" who aim to reduce the emotional and financial expenditures of this experience. Unfortunately, mediation is an unregulated, unlicensed field, with only a few states requiring certification. Neumann, a therapist and experienced mediator, provides a guide through these murky waters by advising how to determine who needs a mediator, where to find one, how to assess the mediator's expertise, what questions to ask, and how to decide if and when one needs a lawyer. She stresses that although mediation does not mean "compromise," disagreements, a routine part of divorce, can be settled by this third party. Several appendixes contain sample information sheets, a mediation contract, standards of practice, a state listing of members of the Academy of Family Mediators, and an extensive bibliography. A practical guide for soon-to-be-unmarrieds. Patricia Hassler

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st Owl book ed edition (January 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080504762X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805047622
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,008,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it before you mediate!, April 14, 2000

By 

DENNIS M LEVIN (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choosing a Divorce Mediator: A Guide to Help Divorcing Couples Find a Competent Mediator (Paperback)

This is an excellent and informative resource on the advantages and limitations of using mediation when getting a divorce. Written by an experienced, certified divorce mediator and attorney, it is professional and sympathetic, and well-written and structured. I consider it an indispensable guide to the selection of a competent divorce mediator, important since divorce mediation is a relatively new field and there are few requirements and standards for practice.