Divorce Mediation Compassion, Strength & Planning in Times of Personal Crisis

Divorce Mediation Attorney in Minneapolis

Small Firm Attention With Substantial Capability for Your Divorce

At Mack & Santana Law Offices, P.C., we represent spouses who want to resolve divorce terms through informed negotiation. Our Minneapolis divorce mediation lawyers guide clients through decisions involving child custody, parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, marital assets, and debts without relying solely on contested court proceedings.

Mediation provides a structured setting for discussing unresolved issues, but it isn’t appropriate for every divorce. Before negotiations begin, we consider the available financial information, each spouse’s ability to participate freely, and whether safety or other urgent concerns require court involvement.

Call (612) 712-3890 to discuss the issues still in dispute and whether attorney-supported mediation may fit your circumstances.

Legal Guidance Before and During Divorce Mediation

A neutral mediator facilitates discussion between spouses but doesn’t represent either participant or impose a decision. We represent one spouse’s interests, explain how Minnesota divorce law applies, and evaluate proposed terms with our client before they accept an agreement.

Our preparation may include:

Defining the disputed issues: We identify the parenting, support, property, and debt decisions that remain unresolved.
Organizing relevant information: We review income records, account statements, property information, debt records, and parenting concerns.
Setting negotiation priorities: We distinguish essential terms from areas where compromise may be possible.
Reviewing proposed language: We determine whether the settlement accurately reflects the agreement and addresses the necessary legal issues.

Lymari J. Santana is a Qualified Mediator under Rule 114, the Minnesota court rule governing alternative dispute resolution, and brings more than 20 years of litigation and trial experience to family law. We pursue workable settlements while preparing to litigate issues that can’t be resolved through negotiation.

More Than 25 Years of Strategic Family Law Guidance

We combine personalized attention with substantial legal capabilities. Our attorneys educate clients about their options, examine the details behind proposed terms, and build a strategy around the circumstances of the marital dissolution rather than treating mediation as a one-size-fits-all process.

Parenting & Financial Issues Addressed in Mediation

A complete settlement may need to resolve both parenting and financial terms. Each provision should clearly define the spouses’ responsibilities after the divorce and explain how the agreement will operate.

Parenting Arrangements

Parenting discussions may cover legal and physical custody, regular parenting time, holidays, transportation, communication, and responsibility for major decisions. We help clients consider how proposed terms may apply to school schedules, exchanges, and other recurring family needs.

Property, Debt, & Support

Financial negotiations may involve marital and nonmarital property, marital debt division, income, child support, spousal maintenance, retirement accounts, business interests, and tax concerns. Accurate records allow both spouses to identify assets, evaluate obligations, and compare settlement proposals.

How Attorney-Supported Divorce Mediation Works

The process varies with the disputes involved, but it generally moves from legal assessment and information gathering to negotiation, agreement review, and completion of the court process.

Common stages include:

Assessing the case: We identify disputed issues, immediate concerns, and the information needed for meaningful negotiations.
Preparing a strategy: We analyze legal considerations, settlement priorities, and possible areas of compromise.
Participating in mediation: The mediator guides the discussion, while the spouses decide whether to accept any proposal.
Documenting terms: Any resolution should be stated clearly and reviewed for legal completeness before submission to the court.
Addressing unresolved disputes: Remaining issues may require further negotiation, another dispute-resolution process, or a contested hearing.

Mediation doesn’t require either spouse to accept an unacceptable proposal. If it resolves only some issues, we can reassess the remaining disputes and prepare for the next stage of the divorce.

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Meet Your Team

Tenacity & Compassion Every Step of the Way

Meet Our Team

Why Hire Mack & Santana?

Committed to Hard Work for Every Client

Mack & Santana Law Offices, P.C. is here to help you get the results you need with a team you can trust.

Over 25 Years of Experience in Family Law
Creative Solutions & Thinking Outside of the Box
Quality Work & Attention to Detail
Small Firm Providing Big Firm Service

Divorce Mediation & Hennepin County Family Court

Hennepin County Family Court handles divorce, child custody, child support, and related family law cases in Minneapolis. A mediated agreement doesn’t terminate a marriage by itself. Its terms must become part of the legal divorce process and receive any required court approval.

Minnesota law, local filing procedures, parenting requirements, and court expectations can affect how an agreement is documented and submitted. We connect each client’s mediation decisions to the steps required to complete the marital dissolution.

What to Bring to Your Initial Divorce Discussion

Gather any available financial records, information about current parenting arrangements, and a list of unresolved issues. Be prepared to discuss the status of the divorce, immediate safety or financial concerns, and whether both spouses are willing to exchange information and participate in mediation.

When Divorce Mediation May Not Be the Right Path

Mediation may be worth considering when both spouses can participate voluntarily, exchange enough information to negotiate, and make independent decisions without intimidation. A willingness to compromise is useful, but the spouses don’t need to agree on every issue before mediation begins.

Another approach may be necessary when urgent safety concerns, coercive control, hidden or disputed financial information, or fundamental disagreements prevent fair negotiation. Minnesota court rules recognize that alternative dispute resolution may be inappropriate when it could compromise a participant’s safety or ability to make independent decisions.

We evaluate these concerns instead of assuming mediation fits every divorce. If an amicable resolution isn’t workable, we’re prepared to protect our client’s interests in contested proceedings.

Build a Focused Plan for Divorce Mediation

Speak with us about the stage of your divorce, the terms still in dispute, and your priorities for the process. We can listen to your circumstances, explain the relevant legal considerations, and develop a strategy for mediation or litigation. Bring the records you have and a clear description of your immediate concerns.

Call (612) 712-3890 to discuss your next step with Mack & Santana Law Offices, P.C..

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