Hands-on Skill Development in Divorce Practice for Mediators
This 24 hour course is designed for mediators who are interested in the practice of divorce mediation. The training integrates substantive information with practice through interactive roleplay experience.
Prerequisite: 30-hour Basic Mediation Training.
Topics covered in Divorce Mediation Training
Overview of Divorce Mediation
- Legal aspects of the court process and relevant Massachusetts statutes.
- Psychological and emotional impact of divorce.
Parenting Matters
- Access options and planning for children (short and long-term).
- Understanding the constructs of physical and legal custody, shared/joint vs solo.
- Language attunement for mediators: "visitation" vs "child access."
- Stages of child development.
Financial Issues
- Alimony, health insurance, property division.
- Statute, case law, and custom and practice as concerns spousal support and the equitable division of the marital estate (survey of various types of assets, including pensions).
- Child support guidelines and financial planning.
Non-Traditional Families
- Mediation for gay, lesbian and unmarried couples (including analysis of Goodridge).
- Non-married heterosexual couples.
Reaching Closure
- Drafting final product.
- Decision-making about final product: Separation Agreement vs Memo.
- Integrating substance into practice.
- Ethical and practice dilemmas, challenging issues and behaviors.
Friday, May 4, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Faculty: Gail Packer, Jeanne Cleary, Rachel Goldman
Saturday, May 5, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Faculty: Michael Leshin, Katherine Triantafillou
Tuesday, May 8, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Faculty: David Hoffman, Robert Smith
Friday May 11, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Faculty: John Fiske, Cynthia Runge,
Brad Honoroff, Jane Honoroff,
Hon. Maureen Monks
Where: CDSC’s offices, 60 Gore Street, East Cambridge
(near Lechmere T, Galleria, courthouses)
Cost: $695 ($675 if registration received by April 13th)
$595 for Volunteers with other Community Mediation Centers
$400 for CDSC Volunteers
Enrollment: Limited to 24. Enroll early!
Registrants who cancel before April 16th will receive a full refund.
Later cancellations will be refunded only if space is filled.
