A Child Centered, Developmentally Informed Process
Custody and parenting time mediation is a structured process designed to help parents reach workable agreements about decision making and time sharing without escalating conflict. Parents sometimes choose private mediation because they want a process that is calmer, more efficient, and more focused on their children than the typical litigation path.
Whether the mediation is initiated privately or ordered by the court, the goal is the same: to support parents in building a plan that fits their child’s needs, developmental stage, temperament, and daily life. In mediation, I help parents slow the conversation down and move from positions to problem solving.
The work is not about determining who is right. It is about identifying what the child needs in order to stay emotionally and practically stable across two homes, and helping parents design an arrangement that supports that stability.
Parenting Time Mediation
Developmentally Appropriate Guidance and Special Circumstances
A parenting plan is only as strong as its fit for the child. Young children, school age children, and adolescents have different developmental tasks, different tolerance for transitions, and different needs for predictability, autonomy, and peer connection. I offer developmentally informed guidance to help parents think through the real world impact of various schedules, transitions, and decision making arrangements, so that the plan reflects the child’s best interests rather than the intensity of the conflict. When a child has special needs, neurodevelopmental differences, anxiety, medical complexity, or other factors that meaningfully shape daily functioning, we address those realities directly. The goal is not to label the child, but to ensure that the parenting plan is built around what the child can reasonably manage and what supports the child’s regulation, learning, and relationships.
Plans that Evolve as Children Grow
Parenting plans are not one time decisions. Children’s needs change as they develop, and many families benefit from setting expectations for when a plan should be revisited. As part of the process, I help parents consider what developmental transitions may require adjustment in the future, such as starting school, increasing extracurricular demands, shifting sleep and routine needs, or the growing importance of peer relationships and independence. This helps parents build a plan that is durable now and flexible in the right ways later.
Training and Professional Preparation
I have completed a 40 hour divorce mediation training through the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators and have additional training in collaborative family law. My approach integrates structure with child centered clinical reasoning so that parents are supported in creating agreements that are practical, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with the child’s wellbeing.
How Cases Begin
I accept custody and parenting time mediation matters that are initiated privately by parents, as well as matters that are court ordered or entered by agreement of the parties and counsel. If you are considering mediation, I will provide a clear overview of the process and help you determine whether mediation is an appropriate fit for the circumstances of your family.
Confidentiality and Privacy in Mediation
In New Jersey, custody and parenting time mediation is considered a form of alternative dispute resolution, which simply means it is a court recognized way to resolve disagreements outside of the courtroom. One of the reasons parents choose this approach is that it is designed to be a private, structured problem solving process rather than a public, adversarial one. In plain language, alternative dispute resolution processes like mediation are intended to create a protected space for negotiation. Instead of parents testifying or presenting evidence, parents speak with one another in a facilitated setting to explore options and work toward agreement. Because the purpose is settlement oriented problem solving, the discussions in mediation are generally treated as confidential and are not intended to be used as evidence later, which helps parents speak more openly and consider solutions without fear that every statement will be brought into court.
Confidentiality in mediation is not the same as secrecy. If parents reach an agreement, the terms of that agreement can, with both parties’ joint consent, be placed in writing and shared with counsel. With both parties’ joint consent, the agreement may also be submitted to the court so it can be incorporated into an enforceable Order or Marital Settlement Agreement. The goal is to keep the negotiation and discussion process protected, while also allowing families to formalize the outcome. Mediation confidentiality is not absolute, and limited legal exceptions apply. If you have questions about how confidentiality works in your specific situation, you should consult with your attorney.
Fees
Fees for custody and parenting time mediation are handled on a retainer basis, consistent with my other court involved services. Retainer terms and current rates are discussed in advance, and services begin once the retainer agreement is completed.