Divorce Mediation Services – Art Lieberman, Ph.D. Email Us 300 W. Millbrook Road, Suite 201 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 Phone: 919-848-9282 Fax: 919-848-9284

Probably the most important aspect in selecting a mediator is that you feel comfortable with the person."

Art Lieberman is qualified:

• A Ph.D. degree in Business Administration provides me with a full understanding of financial matters.
• Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (previously the Academy of Family Mediators) (ACR).
• Selected by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for mediating workplace discrimination claims.
• Trained in divorce mediation through Seton Hall Law School.
• Trained in commercial mediation through the Institute for Dispute Resolution.
  

Art Lieberman is experienced:

• Hundreds of cases resolved peacefully.
• Mediating since 1994.
• Caring about the financial, emotional, and legal aspects of your case.
• Helping you develop a fair agreement, including all aspects of your divorce:
  • Assets and liabilities, including family businesses and retirement plans
  • Custody
  • Parenting arrangements and responsibilities
  • Child support
  • Spousal support
• Also experienced in mediating and arbitrating commercial cases, contract disputes, neighborhood conflicts

Art Lieberman is personable and caring:

I offer my creative ability and caring support to manage the mediation process. It is my priority to help each of you feel safe and empowered as the two of you work out the equitable terms of your separation or divorce.

Of course, all decisions must be guided by legal guidelines and boundaries, but there is a lot of latitude for us to work in. More importantly, I am aware of the emotional impact of the divorce, and I strive to minimize your stress in making those tough decisions.

I prefer to have an informal yet structured environment for the mediation sessions. It is not a legalistic process, but one of negotiation with compassion.

Mediation in a nutshell...

I meet with both of you, together, in my office. In special circumstances, I might meet with each of you separately. My sessions tend to last 1½ to 2 hours, but they could be shorter or longer. We usually meet once per week until all decisions are completed, but you set the pace. The majority of my clients who have children need between three and six sessions. As your mediator, I help you identify and decide issues related to (1) dividing your assets and debts, (2) parenting your children, (3) child support, and (4) spousal support. The result of mediation is a document called a Memorandum of Understanding, usually around 10 pages long, detailing the decisions that you have made. I encourage my clients to share that document with their attorneys, who will review it with you, write up your papers for filing with the court, and represent you at your (hopefully only 10-minute) divorce hearing.

You are not required to use attorneys in order to get divorced, but I do encourage my clients to have attorneys. The role of the attorneys usually is narrowed to consulting, reviewing, and managing the paperwork. The majority of the work -- the decision-making -- is done with your divorce mediator. So, paying one mediator instead of two attorneys cuts your costs in half. And because the mediation process is much more efficient, your costs may be cut by half again. More importantly, it is the nature of the mediation process that the arguments, the fights, the threats, the game playing come to an immediate halt. The goal: To help the two of you move on with your lives in a peaceful and financially-secure manner.

Please email us or visit our website for additional information.

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• In What Kind of Case Will Mediation Fail?