When Not to Attend Mediation

Mediation in Utah divorces is not only mandatory, it’s a really good idea.

You would be amazed at how mediation can bring people together to discuss and negotiate. It’s not a perfect system, by any means, but, for the vast majority of people, it works out much better than going to court.

But this post isn’t about how successful mediation is. Instead, it’s about when you should not attend mediation.

Yes, that’s right, there are times when you shouldn’t attend mediation. I tend to think these situations are pretty limited, but they do exist. So, let’s discuss a few.

When you’re emotionally compromised. If a close family member just passed, or you just had a baby, or your spouse recently abused you, you should not attend mediation. You will negotiate better and think clearer after have had time to process and recover. Give yourself that time.
When you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I know this might be difficult to admit, but if got nervous about mediation and drank too much (a not uncommon experience), tell your attorney. It’s much better to reschedule than it is to agree to something life-changing when you shouldn’t even be driving. (By the way, this goes for prescription medications too. If you’re prescription has made you loopy or out of it, tell your attorney.)
When there has been a long history of domestic violence. There are sometimes when there is a such a power differential between a husband and wife that mediation just can’t work. A long history of repeated domestic violence is one of those sometimes. Some people simply cannot negotiate with their abuser, and that’s okay. If you can’t, let your attorney know and talk it out.

Now, there are other situations in which mediation might not be advisable, but I wanted to limit this discussion to the most common three.

If you find yourself in any of the situations discussed, please, talk with your attorney. Don’t just not show up to mediation. That’s pretty counterproductive to your relationship with your attorney. Be open and honest about things.

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Sophie was an amazing person to work with. She helped walk me through many of my concerns I had in a clear and concise manner. She regularly followed and reached out with me, making me feel like not just another number.

Response from the owner: Thank you, and so glad Sophie communicated so well with you.

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Had an hour consultation. Answered all the questions I had, explained everything in an understandable way and followed up.

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Carren and Jason were very helpful and quick to respond to my questions and concerns as we worked through my divorce, I would recommend them to anyone.

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Best attorney ever. They were so helpful and responsive

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Christie Berube

When I started my case with Brown Family Law, they had 650 positive reviews. Now, about a year later, they have 820. Not sure how much else you need to convince you, but do yourself a favor and stop looking. You're in the right place.We worked with Nathaniel for nearly a year on our case, and trusting someone with something so vulnerable and close to you as a custody case is difficult, but he made it easy. His knowledge of law and experience with the court system allowed us to make educated decisions quicker. He helped me feel confident in very unfamiliar territory, and having someone like Nate on my team allowed me to make the best decisions possible for our family. He thought of many things I didn't, and gave us the roadmap to success for navigating a complicated and stressful situation. I found myself constantly bragging about our lawyer to family and expressing how impressed I was in his skill and his fearless nature of getting sh** done. Nate got that dawg in him, yanno what I mean?I like the way Brown Family Law works with their clients; it's different than other law firms, and I can see the benefits of those differences. It's always easy to contact someone at the office, and I get a response very quickly. They are extremely communicative, fast, and thorough. They run a tight ship, and it's obvious the quality differences from other law firms.This is a big and heavy decision, but Brown Family Law will take a lot of that weight off your shoulders. Ask for Nate--you won't be led astray.

Response from the owner: Christie, thank you. So glad Nathaniel was able to help you and that we were able to communicate with you so quickly.

Fer Esquivel Guillén

This firm is awesome but special shoutout to Dani, she is an outstanding paralegal. She is very knowledgeable

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Karl Bench

I can't say enough about Russell Yauney at Brown Family Law! He has helped me on multiple cases over the years and has always exceeded my expectations. Russell is one of the good guys who isn't afraid to tell you how it is and isn't afraid to stand up and fight for what is right. I'm glad that I have Russell and his team in my corner!

Response from the owner: Karl, glad Russell served you well.

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