If you’re looking for an alternative way to manage your divorce issues and come to terms about the next stage of your separation, mediation could be it. Divorce mediator Mr. Darren M. Shapiro offers today’s residents of Long Island and New York divorce mediation, collaborative law, and other solutions, to ensure that they can find the divorce process that’s best-suited to them. While Mr. Shapiro offers litigation and traditional settlement negotiations for divorce too, mediation gives today’s partners an option to negotiate about things like maintenance, spousal support, and equitable distribution. In many cases, it’s even possible to have a less expensive divorce when opting for mediation.
Ideally, during the divorce period, both partners in the couple would be available at the same time to come together for standard mediation sessions in Mr. Shapiro’s office. However, the truth is that the world is very rarely that convenient. Although Mr. Shapiro does offer a warm and welcoming environment where people can come together in person to discuss their issues, he also understands that there many be situations that prevent people from attending their mediation sessions in person. When that happens, it’s important to have an alternative strategy in place.
The rise of video conferencing tools like Skype or simple three way calls allow for today’s spouses to have a more modern solution to their divorce mediation issues. When couples can’t be available for a conversation in person, video conferencing can help to move the process along as quickly as possible.
As a divorce mediator, Mr. Shapiro does what he can to be as diverse and flexible as possible. This is why he provides things like litigation and collaborative law alongside meditation for people who need to take a different approach to their divorce. Additionally, Darren Shapiro can also offer things like divorce by caucus for people who need to take regular breaks and have private conversations with their mediator during the divorce process. If someone needs to discuss the concept of mediation and the issues that they want to address before the negotiation takes place, then Mr. Shapiro provides preliminary planning sessions too, for those who wish to select that option by mutual agreement.
Offering remote divorce mediation through video conferencing tools is just another way for Mr. Shapiro to give his clients the flexible support they need. As long as the clients involved have a connection that’s strong enough to support a consistent conversation without any drops or lag, then remote mediation can be a great opportunity. Through video conferencing, people around the world can communicate in real-time, as though they were sitting in the same room as their partner and mediator. With video conferencing, sessions can be held, and decisions can be made without both parties having to be present at the same time. This is particularly useful for couples that want to bring their divorce to a close as quickly as possible. Skype and other video conferencing solutions can even be particularly useful when individuals in a divorce would like to mediate, but don’t necessarily feel comfortable in the same room.
Remote divorce mediation is a flexible and immersive way for today’s modern couples to negotiate common issues, ranging from child custody and equitable distribution, to spousal support. As long as everyone feels comfortable with the strategy, video conferencing can also be more immediate and efficient than using email or phone calls. It allows people to feel as though they’re taking an active part in each mediation conversation, even if they don’t have the option to actually be present in the room. With mediation over video conferencing, it’s even possible for a party to pause the video from time to time, which reduces the need for a caucusing session.
New video conferencing technology, available via computers, smartphones and tablets, mean that mediators can use the same strategies that they would access in person to guide the mediation process remotely. People still get to access the same body language and facial expression cues that occur in a face-to-face environment, but they don’t need to be in the same room at the same time. Mediators can even pay attention to facial expressions and say something like “You smiled a little there – do you like the idea of this resolution?”
When parties in a divorce can’t be together in the same room, video conferencing could be the closest way to replicate the face-to-face environment. Skype calls and other video conferencing tools provide mediators like Darren Shapiro with another way to support the needs of a diverse range of clients, each with their own specific challenges to overcome. However, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure that the video call is as productive as possible. For instance, it’s worth starting each call by making sure that a strong connection is in place. It’s also a good idea to use headphones to keep the conversation as private as possible. Most mediators will ask participants to avoid pausing the video stream too regularly and advise their clients to learn how to use the software before a mediation session begins.
If you and your partner want to learn more about mediation through video calling tools, or you’d like to learn about mediation in general, contact the office of Darren Shapiro today at (516) 333-6555. Mr Shapiro will arrange a free initial consultation for both you and your partner to attend at the same time to discuss the potential of divorce mediation.