The most important needs for both you and your spouse need to be identified and then prioritized. Often, there is an immediate need for some structure while you are transitioning. Who is going to stay in the house? Who is going to pay the bills? Who is taking the children to soccer practice on Thursdays? The mediation process starts with those pressing needs.
The structure continues while in mediation. After the immediate needs are addressed, the parenting plan usually is discussed next. Either long term plans or short-term plans are discussed.
Child and spousal support are typically next on the agenda. However, sometimes, a division of assets and debts needs to be discussed before spousal support. For example, if one spouse wants to stay in the house for two more years when the youngest child graduates from high school, the support may be determined by how much that spouse needs to be able to stay in the house. We can be creative. Perhaps, that spouse will use an asset to trade for getting more support to stay in the house for that period of time. Or will get less of the proceeds for the sale of the house. There are many ways to design a plan to fit around your needs. No cookie cutter approach is needed. We will identify needs and desires and try to create a solution to work toward goals for both you and your spouse.
