When you begin the mediation process, one of the factors that need to be determined is child custody. Generally, one parent will spend more time with the child than the other parent. The parents will need to determine who the child will spend holidays with, weekends with, and who’s house they will primarily live in. The parent who spends less than 50-percent of the time with the child will usually be obligated to make child support payments. The custodial or residential parent is who the child lives with more often than not. They make the majority of the decisions about the child’s daily life. These decisions may include but are not limited to the way the child dresses, eats, where they go to school, the religious upbringing and any other general choices about the child’s life that need to be made. In addition, you will need to decide the level of communication that the non-custodial parent can have with your child. Are there going to be daily phone calls? Or are there going to be weekly phone calls? Whether you realize it or not at the very beginning of mediation, you will find that there are a large number of minute decisions that must be made. These are all factors that can be discussed during the mediation process and therefore, it is valuable to have an experienced mediator to assist you during this time.
Judith Goldberg is an experienced Boca Raton mediator serving Palm Beach and Broward County, Florida. If you need a compassionate mediator to guide you through your family law matter, contact our Boca Raton office for a free consultation.
