How Can I Deal with My Family Issues During the Stay at Home Order?
We are all struggling with the “stay-at-home” orders in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This can create previously unknown conflicts at home or inflame existing issues . Sadly, this health crisis has forced many families into much stress – financial as well as physical. We are all stuck at home struggling to home school our kids, work from our living rooms, and keep on top of all of our bills. Unfortunately, this added stress will lead many to marital discord. Some couples are even faced with continuing to live together out of necessity when they were already on the brink of separating or divorcing.
Even though the courts are closed, Mediation is still available during the COVID 19 crisis. In fact, the silver lining is that many couples are now seeking out mediation as a way to deal with disputes they would normally have litigated. Whether you and your spouse are in the midst of a family crisis of your own and considering separation or divorce or whether you simply need some guidance to navigate the difficulties of working from home while full-time parenting, online Family Mediation may be helpful to you. Online video or phone consultations can help with dispute resolution, parenting time coordination, individual and family counseling and child/teen counseling. Many mediators are offering online video conferencing to allow parties and a neutral mediator to “meet” remotely for sessions all from the safety of your home.
Perhaps you need help scheduling time for both you and your spouse to work and share responsibilities of the children and their online schooling; perhaps there are disputes as to whose time at “work” is more essential; perhaps one parent is more involved with the home schooling than the other which is frustrating. Or, sadly, this time at home alone with each other has made you face the reality that your marriage is not working.
Help is also available with post-divorce custody and parenting disputes that may arise during this crisis. Are you nervous about allowing your ex to spend time with your children during this pandemic? Are you concerned about exposure? What will happen with summer vacation plans and do you have any say about trips planned?
We asked Barbara Rasmussen, Esq., a Family Law Mediator with Recompose Us, about how couples can best navigate these issues. According to Attorney Rasmussen, Mediation is the answer for most couples right now and fills the void left when courts closed. Many couples she’s worked with find that they can work through their issues with a Family Law attorney/mediator and often with the assistance of a Divorce Coach or parenting coordinator. These couples find relief and peace in resolving disputes as most issues cannot wait for courts to open for resolution. Online mediation helps address your family’s disputes from the safety of your home where you and your spouse can meet with a mediator online and attempt to resolve your disputes now in a more amicable atmosphere than letting the issues linger and increase in intensity. The key is to work toward resolutions rather than allowing hostility and resentment to build up in your relationship whether you stay together or ultimately leave the marriage. The goal is to preserve your continued relationship – whether together or apart.
We will all get through this COVID 19 health crisis. Mediation is a great resource right now to help your family navigate this difficult time in your relationship without the unnecessary step of litigation.
Barbara Rasmussen, ESQ is the founder of Divorce Options Inc, LLC a practice that helps those navigating legal disputes through amicable mediation methods.
