Practice Areas
Mediation & Early Neutral Evaluation
Avoid Family Law Battles With Help From Our Mediation And Early Neutral Evaluation Attorneys
The Benefits Of Early Neutral Evaluation In Your Family Law Proceedings
ENE is a voluntary and nonbinding process that occurs at the early stages of a family law case. Oftentimes, the parties have their respective attorneys attend the ENE.
There are two main types of ENE:
Financial Early Neutral Evaluation (FENE) focuses on financial issues, such as asset and debt division, child support and spousal maintenance. An early neutral evaluator will work with both sides to provide candid feedback about the financial issues and help to mediate a resolution. This can help both parties understand their financial positions and come to a fair agreement more quickly.
Social Early Neutral Evaluation (SENE) focuses on social issues, primarily concerning child custody and parenting time. A gender-balanced team of two neutral evaluators, typically an attorney and a child development expert such as a psychologist or social worker, will assess the family dynamics and provide feedback from a child-centered perspective. This evaluation helps you understand what arrangements might be in the best interest of your children, fostering a cooperative approach to custody and parenting time (visitation).
Mediation Provides A Problem-Solving Alternative To The Courtroom
Litigating a divorce or child custody case is often expensive and time-consuming, and neither party has control over the outcome. Mediation puts the control over the outcome back in your hands.
In mediation, you and the other party work with a neutral third person, called a mediator, to resolve any disputed family law issues. The mediator cannot make decisions for you, or give you legal advice, but they will help you both discuss your concerns and find mutually agreeable solutions. Evaluative mediators can give you their opinions regarding the pros and cons of possible solutions and help you understand what might happen if you had to litigate these issues in court.
In addition to likely saving time and money and preserving privacy, mediation also tends to be less stressful and helps to maintain a more amicable relationship, which is especially important when children are involved. Our experienced mediation and early neutral evaluation attorneys believe strongly in these methods. Each can serve as a mediator or counsel and advise clients participating in mediation.
