Child mediation child custody and family dispute resolution services can turn the most conflicted families into civilised co-parents.
Parents and children can experience many conflicts over time. Family dynamics change, as do the priorities of each family member. Children can have various emotional responses to a parent forming a new relationship after a divorce. Kids may feel their parents aren’t respecting their outlook on life when making decisions about education and extracurricular activities.
Trying to settle problems within the home can often leave issues unresolved and increase tensions further. Dispute resolution and child mediation services can approach issues in a non-judgmental and unbiased setting, such as a family relationship centre.
Key Takeaways
- Family dispute resolution Sunshine Coast services offer a neutral platform for resolving conflicts between parents and children.
- Unlike therapy, mediation focuses on immediate problem solving and fostering better communication among family members.
- Before taking family matters to court, engaging in dispute resolution is often legally recommended or required under the Family Law Act.
- Mediation can address various issues, from the emotional impact of new relationships to setting up parenting plans.
- The process is adaptable to different family dynamics, including those involving adult children concerned about their aging parents’ wellbeing.
There are many issues between parents and their children that family dispute resolution practitioners can help to resolve. , including child abuse. So, what can you expect from the process?
How a Family Dispute Resolution Service Can Help Child Mediation?
Mediation services are not about helping the parties involved win an argument. A successful mediation session focuses on representing all sides of a conflict and finding ways to improve communication so both parties can provide input on resolving a dispute.
Mediation service is not therapy. Mediation is short-term and seeks to resolve immediate issues. Parents and kids can move past any disputes and find a compromise acceptable to everyone.
The law requires both parties to attend family dispute resolution (FDR) mediation genuinely. It is recommended that this be done before filing parenting orders in a family law court.
Forming New Relationships
After a finalised divorce or during a separation, it’s natural to seek out a new relationship and try to move on with your life. Yet, this can cause many feelings in your son or daughter. Your kids can resent a new person entering the home, seeing it as a betrayal of the family.
These emotional responses are valid, and a family dispute resolution practitioner can approach them with care to find a middle ground that accounts for the interests of the parent and the child.
Organising Parenting Arrangements Through Family Mediation
When enshrining parenting arrangements through the family law system, the court process often requires the parties to participate in a family mediation process to reach an agreement between spouses in family law disputes. Resolving disputes without going to court for parenting orders is generally beneficial for all family members.
Since the family court considers your child’s best interests paramount in family law matters, it is best to include them in the mediation process if possible. Family dispute resolution and child mediation services can help you deal with many factors your child may be concerned about, including:
- How you will handle their education;
- What extracurricular activities they’ll have access to;
- What parent will be the primary carer;
- How do you organise visitation with the other parent;
- How you will involve extended family members in your child’s life;
- How you will meet any medical or religious needs?
It is easy to proceed with parenting plans without considering your child’s perspective. But, ignoring their opinion can lead to resentment and mistrust, which is poisonous for a connection. Family dispute resolution and child mediation work to prevent this and create a positive future for your family.
Family Dispute Resolution with Adult Children
The dynamics between parents and adult children are different than when children are underage. You are dealing with the issues in reverse. Instead of parents mediating the care of their children, teenagers become concerned about their parent’s care.
As co-parents age, they may feel pressure from their daughters or sons to change their living circumstances. This concern comes from a good place since kids of aging parents may think that changes like moving into assisted living arrangements are for the best.
But these life changes can be distressing. Family dispute resolution and child mediation can broach these sensitive areas respectfully and carelessly to ensure that nobody feels exploited or ignored. Ultimately, the people involved want the best for their families, and a mediation process can help them articulate their concerns productively.
Get in Touch Today
Whether you’re on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, we can help you through your dispute resolution matters. Shanahan Family Law is here to assist.
If you need help with family law matters, contact us for a free discovery call.
