Colorado Mediation Attorney

Mediation and Arbitration

We Wrote the Book on Colorado Divorce Law

The partners at McGuane and Hogan are the authors of the Colorado Family Law Practice Series, a detailed work on the practice of divorce with references to Colorado statutes, cases, and other commentary.

Judges, lawyers, and others the divorce field rely upon this book as the authoritative text on family law and divorce in Colorado.

Our firm has also written a number of publications on a variety of family law topics such as valuation of assets, child support in high income cases, and custodial parent relocation.

A mediator is a neutral third person who helps the two parties in a divorce resolve issues such as asset division, child custody and support, and maintenance out of court. Mediation can be particularly useful when only a small number of issues remain to be resolved to reach a divorce settlement. In many judicial districts, mediation is required before a case is allowed to proceed to trial.

The mediator could be a lawyer or another professional. If the issues involve parenting time and decision-making responsibilities, the mediator could be a mental health professional. If the issue is financial, a mediator could be certified public accountant (CPA). A former or retired judge could serve as a mediator. Our lawyers also serve as mediators or settlement masters.

Mediation is not binding on either party unless a signed agreement is reached, and either party can proceed to litigate the issues in court if no resolution is reached. However, judicial decisions can be unpredictable, so it's often better to attempt mediation first. A skillful lawyer can discuss with the party, before and during mediation, the pros and cons of vaious settlement options. The parties frequently have their lawyers attend mediation sessions with them.

Arbitration

Like a mediator, an arbitrator is a neutral third party who assists in resolving disputed issues. Unlike mediation, arbitration is binding as to the issues decided and an arbitration proceeding can be much like a trial, although it does not take place in a court room Currently under Colorado law, arbitration decisions are final and can only be appealed in very limited circumstances.

However, Colorado law allows the parties to retain the right to appeal a decision reached through arbitration if they hire a private judge to handle the arbitration. This approach avoids the delays associated with over crowded dockets in many areas of the state. This approach also allows parties to keep more of their personal and financial information sealed from the general public. This type of proceeding requires the same careful preparation and court room skills as a traditional trial. The lawyers at McGuane and Hogan are experienced in handling these types of proceedings.

Contact a Colorado mediation attorney at McGuane and Hogan, LLP.

The Colorado mediation lawyers at McGuane and Hogan, LLP serve clients throughout Colorado, including Denver, Aspen, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder, Steamboat Springs, Vail, Grand Junction, Adams County, Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Jefferson County, Broomfield County, Eagle County, Pitkin County, Gunnison County, El Paso County and Garfield County