90% of family law matters settle in mediation and eliminate the need for prolonged litigation. This offers you more control over your situation and keeps you out of the courtroom. Furthermore, Oklahoma family court judges generally require you to attend mediation before you will be allowed to ask for a courtroom trial or hearing on your case.
Choosing mediation over a contested courtroom battle can offer significant advantages:
That said, mediation isn't right for every situation. In cases involving domestic violence, hidden assets, or a serious power imbalance between the parties, litigation may be the better path. We'll give you an honest assessment of whether mediation is likely to serve your interests.
You will be with an attorney from our team through every step of the mediation. It can be done virtually (via Zoom, Teams or some other format) or in person. You will be in a room with your attorney and the other party will be in a separate room. The mediator will go between the two rooms attempting to help you find a resolution for your specific case.
Before going to mediation, our team will provide a confidential mediation statement to the mediator outlining your position and goals for the outcome of your case. Most mediations last 2 to 4 hours.
If an agreement is reached, the terms are written down, signed by both parties, and submitted to the court for approval. Once approved by the judge, the agreement becomes a binding court order. If no agreement is reached, your case proceeds toward trial, but nothing said in mediation can be used against you in court. All offers and counteroffers in mediation are strictly confidential and not admissible in court if further litigation is necessary.
Shannon Brown is well trained and experienced as a mediator in family law matters. She provides viable and creative solutions to help you find a solution that works for your particular case. We look forward to scheduling mediation for your case if you have reached that step in the process.
