Divorce Mediation

Mediation means different things to different people. In our office, you and your spouse will sit down in the same room with either Barbara Gervase or David Vallone, who will serve as a neutral mediator. The goal at Gervase & Vallone is to help you work through all the issues you need to resolve so that the two of you can get through your divorce or separation without the need for court intervention.

Mediation is flexible and confidential. If you have children mediation provides you and your spouse an opportunity to settle your conflict in a way that helps you work together as parents have your divorce.

We remain neutral between the husband and wife. That means we cannot give advice to either party or advocate for one party as against the other. You and your spouse come to an agreement with our assistance. At the end of the process, if not sooner, you each retain independent attorneys to review the terms you and your spouse arrived at in the mediation sessions.

Mediation is voluntary. It continues only for so long as you wish it to continue. At Gervase & Vallone, you pay by the session. There is no need for an up-front retainer.

Does Mediation Work?

In a word, yes. We know from years of research that when you compare couples who have mediated their divorce with couples who go through an adversarial divorce, mediating couples are more likely to be satisfied with the process and the results. It is also likely to take less time, cost less money, and it is less likely you will go back to court later to fight about something.