Lesbian\Gay\Bisexual\Transgender Mediation Services
DivorceDoneRight is proud to provide our unique tools for conflict resolution to the l\g\b\t community. We believe in equality for all, as well as the importance of teaching tolerance and incorporating this important value into each of us, whether it relates to our ethnicity, gender (or gender identity), or sexual orientation.
Mediation with the experienced professionals at DivorceDoneRight is the best way for l\g\b\t couples to make decisions in virtually any area of conflict in their relationship. Without the benefits afforded by a legally recognized marriage, family conflict can become more complicated. In addition to using our experienced, neutral family mediators to facilitate productive conversation and decision-making, many of our clients prefer our discreet, confidential mediation suites over a public courtroom setting.
Any agreements reached by parties in mediation with DivorceDoneRight can be summarized in a Memorandum of Understanding drafted by your Mediator. The parties can then incorporate this document into a legally binding Agreement.
We support decision-making for l\g\b\t couples in the following ways.
- Child Custody: We can assist with decision-making related to your children. You can decide where they live, how their time will be shared with each of you, how vacations will be handled, transportation, etc.
- Child Support: How much will be paid and who will pay it. Since the law does not provide guidelines for l\g\b\t couples, mediation is the best place to establish an plan that you can both comfortably live with.
- Division of Property: Without guidance from the Florida, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania legislature or Divorce Code, l\g\b\t couples can benefit from the options they discuss in mediation with DivorceDoneRight. Life partners can make decisions related to division of assets when they separate.
- Estate Planning: Without the benefit of a legal marriage, it's critical for l\g\b\t couples to establish a legal contract in order to determine how your estate will be handled upon your death, or your partner's death. If conflict arises in planning your estate, DivorceDoneRight's expert Mediators will help facilitate productive discussion of these issues and support decision-making.
- Living Will: Should you or your partner become terminally ill and\or incapacitated, your partner will have no role in the decisions that need to be made for you, unless you agree in advance on how decisions are to be made and execute a legally enforceable Agreement. If you can't agree on all of the terms of this Agreement, we can help this decision-making process. You and your partner must take charge of the decisions that you want made in the event that you are no longer of a capacity to make them.
- Pre-commitment Agreements: Before making a lifelong commitment to one another, you might opt to discuss an agreement with respect to ownership of the assets you purchase and the liabilities you incur beforer and during your union. This type of agreement is essentially the equivalent of a pre-nuptual agreement, and can be invaluable should your union end.
According to a list compiled in 2004 by the Equality Forum (a non-profit corporation based in Philadelphia), there are 1,138 perks afforded by the Federal government to legally married people. This information and list can be found at www.equalityforum.com.
While l\g\b\t couples cannot currently replicate all of these rights by marriage, many can be replicated by contract. If you are unable to agree on these issues, let us help you sort through your individual concerns and make decisions that will potentially relieve any anxiety around the above issues and allow you to focus on the future. Mediation is a far better option than evasion. Protect yourself and your loved ones with the support of professionals that help a seemingly daunting process advance as smoothly as possible.