Divorce mediation is the way of the future. Overwhelmed New Jersey family courts do an admirable job to keep up with a very high volume of work, with diligent judges often staying into the night. The demands on family court judges to handle burgeoning domestic violence dockets and ever-increasing DYFS litigation limit the amount of resources that courts dedicate to divorce trials.
And in the end, 98% of divorce cases settle.
As a result of these trends, many informed couples are turning to private mediation. In mediation, a professional mediator, usually an attorney, meets with the couple to discuss how to handle the different issues raised by the dissolution of their marriage. The mediator works with the couple on issues of custody and visitation, equitable distribution of property, alimony, child support, etc.
The couple and mediator work with one goal: To reach a fair agreement between the parties as to how to divide obth the parental rights and the property rights. If mediation is successful, then the parties avoid bitter and costly divorce litigation where the only real winners are the attorneys.
Katherine Howes brings nearly two decades matrimonial law experience to the mediation table. She was first trained in dispute resolution as a law clerk for Assignment Judge Edward W. Beglin. She served as a municipal court judge for two terms. She has served for seven years as a member of the Somerset County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel. In April 2008, she completed the 40 hour extensive divorce mediation program offered by the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators.
All mediations will be handled in complete privacy and will be conducted with the highest degree of civility and professionalism.