A parenting schedule that looks workable on paper can fall apart when a parent works overnight shifts, serves as a firefighter, or follows a three-day medical rotation. When a court-created arrangement can’t bend to those realities, mediation may be able to.
Mediation gives both sides a place to work out an agreement that reflects their actual lives — provided they come in with reasonable expectations and a willingness to compromise.
Hear our team discuss what mediation can make possible for a family law case.
Can Mediation Keep Our Case Out Of Court?
Yes. Mediation is an opportunity to resolve a case without asking a judge to decide the outcome. That matters because a judge is limited to what the law permits — mediation isn’t. As our team puts it, mediation creates space for “creative, fun things that the court would never do.”
Can We Build A Parenting Plan Around Our Actual Schedules?
Yes. Parents can use mediation to tailor a time-sharing schedule around their real work and family routines, rather than defaulting to a standard arrangement that doesn’t fit. An overnight shift worker, a firefighter on a rotating schedule, or a nurse on a three-day block has different needs than a parent working a traditional nine-to-five. Mediation lets parents design something that reflects those differences — what our team calls a “very strange time sharing plan” — with children’s schedules at the center.
What Happens If We Can’t Reach An Agreement?
If both parties can’t compromise, the case goes to trial. That’s costly — and money spent on litigation is money that could have gone toward the family’s future, a college fund, or simply moving on. Mediation isn’t a guarantee of resolution, but it’s almost always worth the attempt.
If you have questions about mediation or another family law concern, Owenby Law, P.A. offers a free 30-minute consultation. Call us at (904) 770-3141 to get started.