Mediation provides a healthy alternative to the stress, angst and expense of divorce litigation. As an experienced divorce mediator, Lisa L. Derr will listen to you throughout the process to help you meet your core needs.
Meet Our Lawyers
Serving Beaver Dam, Oshkosh, West Bend & Wisconsin
At Derr & Villarreal, our family law attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience to your case. We are proven trial lawyers who are also family law mediators. Whenever possible, we are dedicated to helping our clients retain the power to make decisions and to keep the peace by going through the mediation process. We have found that this is the healthy, economical way to solve your family law and divorce issues. We are ready with the personal attention and service to help you move forward to a positive future.
Learn MoreThe Mediation Process
What Will Happen if I Decide to Try Divorce Mediation?
The mediator discusses with the parties the issues that need to be addressed to reach a divorce settlement. With the mediator present, the parties are each given the opportunity to say what is most important to them.
The mediator assists the parties in working out their differences as well as communicating with each other. The mediator clarifies information about legal requirements and testimony for an uncontested divorce.
The mediation agreement that will be drafted by the mediator at the session includes settlement of the following issues:
- Child custody and placement schedules
- The amount of child support
- Whether spousal maintenance will be paid by one party to the other, for how long, and at what amount
- Dividing all property
- Payment and responsibility for debts
- Taxes and exemptions
You will file your agreement by taking it to the court as a marital settlement agreement.
To Start The Process
Simply call or email our office with the following information:
- Full name, address, and phone numbers for both yourself and your spouse.
Our office will then contact both you and your spouse to answer any questions you may have and to coordinate sending a questionnaire and finding a convenient appointment time.
Orientation Session
The mediator explains the process of gathering financial information and the initial paperwork to begin the divorce. From the very beginning, we’ll also discuss which issues are most important to each of you.
When you leave your orientation session you will be given everything you need to file your divorce with the court and begin the divorce process.
Mediation Session
The mediator assists you in working out your differences with the goal of finding mutually beneficial solutions. As each issue is addressed, you and the mediator draft the mediation agreement, which becomes part of your final divorce judgment.
Common Mediated Family Law Issues:
- Placement Schedules
- Child Support
- Spousal maintenance
- Dividing property
- Responsibility for debts
- Tax Issues
At the end of the session we will review detailed instructions to finish your divorce. You will file your divorce papers with your mediation agreement and both parties will attend your final hearing. As we are not your divorce attorneys, we do not attend the final hearing.
We encourage you to contact us with any questions throughout the process.