At Mediation Northwest, we work with Oregon couples who want to get divorced the easy way.
Divorce mediation allows both parties to work with our experienced mediator to get a fair deal for both parties. To make the divorce process more convenient, our office has been offering virtual mediation for our clients for years.
Our clients sometimes have questions about whether virtual mediation is right for them. What is it like? Is it legal in Oregon? Why should I conduct divorce mediation virtually instead of in-person?
Read on for answers to these questions and more.
What is divorce mediation?
Divorce mediation is a process where both parties sit down with a n impartial third party mediator and discuss solutions to the problems facing them, such as child custody or property allocation.
Once both parties have come to an agreement, they sign a legally-enforceable divorce agreement that gets sent to the court for approval.
Virtual mediation saves time, money, and the drama of fighting with your ex over every little detail.
One of the biggest benefits of mediation is that the process can be done over the phone or through a Zoom call.
How can you conduct divorce mediation over Zoom?
Here’s how the process usually goes:
- We send you a link to join a Zoom call.
- We conduct the mediation session over Zoom. You will be able to see everyone on your screen.
- After one or multiple mediation sessions, when you and your ex-spouse have come to an agreement on all the issues, you both sign a divorce agreement.
- We send the divorce documents to the court. Once the court has signed the divorce documents, we follow-up with a personalized step-by-step guide on your next steps.
We’ve been doing Zoom mediation for clients in the state of Oregon for years, but due to the Covid-19 shut down, we’ve been almost exclusively using this method of handling divorce for our clients.
How to use Zoom
If you’re unfamiliar with the program, Zoom is a way for people to talk face-to-face through a video call on their computers or phones.
Here’s how it works:
- We send you a link by email.
- When you click on the link, it takes you to the website zoom.us, and asks you to create an account and download the app onto your computer or your phone.
- If you’re using a computer, you can choose to join the call in your browser instead of downloading the app.
- Once you’ve joined the call, the meeting will begin!
Check out this article by Zoom on how to join a meeting if you need more help. Feel free to call our office and ask for help if you’re having trouble. We have helped several 80+ year-old clients with Zoom.
If we can teach them, then we can teach you, too.
Is Zoom divorce mediation legal in Oregon?
In Oregon, the courts encourage mediation to avoid spending time litigating the divorce. In cases involving children, most courts also require mediation.
The court can sometimes provide a court-connected mediator in these cases. These mediators have to meet certain qualifications in order to be approved, but couples seeking mediation may also choose to hire a private mediator who meets these requirements.
For example, our mediator at Mediation Northwest—Julie Gentili—is a Certified Advanced Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Family Mediators and has been awarded the Oregon Mediation Associations Sid Lezak Award of Excellence for providing outstanding mediation services throughout Oregon.
The important thing to understand is that the law takes no issue with mediation conducted online.
Set up a virtual mediation session today
At Mediation Northwest, our goal is to help you and your spouse get through your divorce with the least conflict possible, and draw up an agreement that works for everyone.
Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
