The latest news from Virginia Mediation
Say It, Don’t Send It
Speak directly to the party with whom you are negotiating, in person or on Zoom, rather than using email, voicemail, text messages or snail mail (USPS). That’s the advice of negotiation expert Victoria H. Medvec, PhD, in her 2021 book Negotiate Without Fear. Before...
Overcoming Fear of Rejection in Negotiations
“One of the biggest sources of fear in a negotiation is that the other side will walk away,” says negotiation expert Victoria H. Medvec, PhD, in her 2021 book Negotiate Without Fear. To reduce the chances of your spouse rejecting your offer of settlement, speak...
Make A “Multiple Equivalent Simultaneous Offer (MESO)”
“Often, we are afraid to make the opening offer because we fear that we will offend the other side, or that they will walk away,” says negotiation expert Victoria H. Medvec, PhD, in her 2021 book Negotiate Without Fear. p133. To reduce the chances of your spouse...
How to Begin Marital Separation, Negotiations and Divorce
Don’t start with a lawyer: When considering a trial separation or ending your marriage new emotions arise. You’ve been feeling distant from your spouse, alone, hurt, angry, and now you’re worried and insecure about your future. Irreconcilable differences and the need...
Divorce Judge’s Quote in a Child Custody Case:
Nearly always child custody presents a most serious and trying problem. The writer of this opinion, as a trial judge, found it to be so and he finds it substantially the same as an appellate judge. The parents, both of them in many instances, are in court because of...
Why and How to Keep Your Lawyer in the Loop at Minimum Cost and Still Get Good Advice
1. Lawyer Ethics impose total responsibility on the lawyer for your court case. Even if suit has not been filed, most lawyers will feel that same responsibility once you hire them. Thus, when you choose to stay in control of your case using the mediation process, many...
Our Parent Education Seminars Are Different!
Virginia Mediation’s Parent Education Seminars have always covered the subjects required by Virginia Code Section 16.1-278.15 as to Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (custody) cases and by Va. Code Section 20-103 as to Circuit Court (divorce) cases. These...
QR: The Quieting Reflex®
6 second stress reduction developed by Charles Stroebel, MD, PhD with modifications here by Bob Whitehouse, EdD, & A.Blanton Massey, JD,LLM Practice this 6 second technique many times a day to develop a stress reducing habit. It counters the STRESS ALARM Reflex in...
Consulting a Divorce Lawyer: A Client’s Bill of Rights
Use Counseled Mediation if I ask for it Focus on facts, finances, funds, feasibility, fairness & future Inform me promptly of what to expect and status Send me copies of everything Send me a monthly detailed bill Respect me & my right to decide Be honest &...
What to Expect From Your Lawyer
Some attorneys consulted by clients before and during mediation tend to give the clients only generic “legal information” about “legal rights.” They tell their clients what the statutory and case law says and how a judge generally tends to rule on typical issues. Even...